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Hedy Lamarr (2018)

womenshistory.org

1–10 of 87 posts

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#2
Frequency hopping is no small idea to crack because you either need a shared codebook (PRNG) or a means of re-keying to an ephemeral window of future sequences. Didn't read Lamarr's patent but she seems a natural hacker girl taking music boxes apart aged 5.

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#3
Like many stories of this kind, the idea that this person "pioneered the basis" of these technologies seems massively overblown. What she and Antheil patented was a system that used frequency hopping to help guide torpedoes, using a piano roll to switch between the frequencies. They did not "invent" frequency hopping, which had been discussed in the literature for 30 years already.

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#4

Like many stories of this kind, the idea that this person "pioneered the basis" of these technologies seems massively overblown. What she and Antheil patented was a system that used frequency hopping to help guide torpedoes, using a piano roll to switch between the frequencies. They did not "invent" frequency hopping, which had been discussed in the literature for 30 years already.

But a piano-roll (presumably of type she discovered in music boxes) is quite ingenious solution for synchronised key sequences, for the technology of the time. Kinda similar analogical transfer going on for the Jacquard loom as early "program storage".

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#6

Like many stories of this kind, the idea that this person "pioneered the basis" of these technologies seems massively overblown. What she and Antheil patented was a system that used frequency hopping to help guide torpedoes, using a piano roll to switch between the frequencies. They did not "invent" frequency hopping, which had been discussed in the literature for 30 years already.

exactly. every single one of these cases is an absolute stretch and diminishes the work of the people who actually developed it. its historical revisionism at best

at worst its offensive to the person because it suggests they were so small minded that they didn't or couldn't actually develop the technology to a sufficient enough degree such that they are actually associated with it. these people are hidden not because they're women, but because they didn't really contribute anything at all to the field

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#7
Note that this "Austrian-American actress" (I understand the helpful wording is aimed at non-buffs who may not recognise the name Hedy Lamarr) was a huge star in her day, an equivalent to - say - Margot Robbie.

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#8
post #5

Wlan is not using frequency hopping or am I mistaken?

Yes, otherwise interference would be a right pain (or render it unusable completely). This happens for many wireless systems (like bluetooth too).

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#9

Note that this "Austrian-American actress" (I understand the helpful wording is aimed at non-buffs who may not recognise the name Hedy Lamarr) was a huge star in her day, an equivalent to - say - Margot Robbie.

Bigger than Robbie, much bigger

Re: Hedy Lamarr (2018)

#10

Note that this "Austrian-American actress" (I understand the helpful wording is aimed at non-buffs who may not recognise the name Hedy Lamarr) was a huge star in her day, an equivalent to - say - Margot Robbie.

Got her own joke name in Blazing Saddles. No greater honour.
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