Which actress became an inventor contributing to Wi-Fi and GPS?
Asked by: Alexzander Schroeder | Last update: February 20, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (2 votes)
The actress who became an inventor contributing to Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth is Hedy Lamarr, a famous Hollywood star from the Golden Age who, with composer George Antheil, patented a "Secret Communication System" using frequency hopping during World War II to guide torpedoes, a technology foundational to modern wireless communication.
What actress invented GPS?
Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress and inventor who pioneered the technology that would one day form the basis for today's WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth communication systems.
Who was the actress who made the Internet?
It would subsequently be used in a wide range of military applications. Still, significantly, it was the "spread spectrum" technology that Hedy Lamarr helped to invent that would form the basis of modern wireless communication technology and enable the smartphone boom and WiFi connections we take for granted today.
Which famous Hollywood actress invented a technology?
Regarded as the “most beautiful woman in the world,” Hedy Lamarr was not only a famous Hollywood actress who sold millions in war bonds during World War II, she was an inventor. Her creations included a frequency-hopping radio communications device for Allied torpedoes during the war.
What female invented the internet?
Radia Perlman was the first to write an algorithm that allowed more devices and organizations to connect via the internet. The first computer, invented by Charles Babbage, was revolutionized by the first algorithm written and invented by Ada Lovelace.
The Greatest Inventor You've Never Heard Of
Who is the woman responsible for the Internet?
Radia Perlman
Her accomplishments as a network engineer and software designer earned her the nickname “mother of the internet.” She is credited with making the internet into the massive system it is today, which links devices from all over the world and stores data in an abstract Cloud.
Did Hedy Lamarr really invent Wi-Fi?
No, Hedy Lamarr didn't invent Wi-Fi directly, but she and composer George Antheil invented frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II, a key precursor to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, by patenting a system to guide torpedoes secretly. While the military didn't use it then, her idea of rapidly changing frequencies laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication, earning her the nickname "mother of Wi-Fi".
Who is the most famous female inventor?
There isn't one single "most famous," but Marie Curie (radioactivity, elements Polonium & Radium, mobile X-rays) and Ada Lovelace (first computer programmer) are consistently ranked among the most famous and impactful female inventors, alongside Hedy Lamarr (frequency hopping tech for Wi-Fi/GPS) and Stephanie Kwolek (Kevlar) for broader recognition of their world-changing innovations.
Who was the person who invented WiFi?
We are talking about the Austrian Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) who, in addition to standing out in her artistic facet, invented with the American pianist and painter George Antheil a first version of the spread spectrum, a technology at the base of long-distance communications and with applications in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or ...
Who is the most famous Hollywood actress ever?
fame is defined by the % of people who have heard of a all-time actress. Find out more
- 1 Marilyn Monroe96%
- 2 Betty White95%
- 3 Whoopi Goldberg95%
- 4 Anne Hathaway94%
- 5 Lindsay Lohan94%
- 6 Jennifer Aniston93%
- 7 Julia Roberts93%
- 8 Halle Berry93%
What was Hedy Lamarr's net worth when she died?
Hedy Lamarr's net worth at her death in 2000 was estimated at around $3.3 million, primarily from stocks, with her estate leaving significant portions to two of her children, Anthony Loder and Denise Loder-DeLuca, and small bequests to friends, according to her will and news reports.
Who is known as the mother of the Internet?
Radia Perlman, a pioneer in computer networking, for an inspiring discussion as part of the Business of Science lecture series. Known as the “Mother of the Internet,” Dr.
Which actress and inventor is often referred to as the mother of Wi-Fi?
Hedy Lamarr was an actress and inventor known as the "mother of Wi-Fi.”
What actress was a code breaker?
Hedy Lamarr was a multi-talented woman who helped develop the foundation for wireless communication. Here are five facts you might not have known about her life and her inventions.
What color were Hedy Lamarr's eyes?
Hedy Lamarr famously had stunning hazel-green eyes, described by some as "chameleon blue," meaning they shifted between hazel, gray, and green depending on the light, though often noted for their deep, clear color against her dark hair.
What caused Hedy Lamarr's death?
Actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr died on January 19, 2000, at age 85, from heart disease, specifically congestive heart failure, after spending her final years in seclusion in Florida.
Which woman invented Wi-Fi?
Most people know Hedy Lamarr as a top actress during Hollywood's golden era. She is less well known as a brilliant inventor. One of her inventions, with composer George Antheil, was a forerunner to today's WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS technologies, and has led many to dub Lamarr the mother of WiFi.
Did Wi-Fi come from a woman?
No single woman invented Wi-Fi, but Austrian-American actress Hedy Lamarr developed a crucial precursor technology, the frequency-hopping system, with composer George Antheil, earning her the title "Mother of Wi-Fi" and laying the groundwork for modern wireless tech like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Their patented "Secret Communication System" used changing frequencies to prevent radio signal jamming, a concept fundamental to today's wireless communication.
Did Hedy invent Wi-Fi?
No, Hedy Lamarr didn't invent Wi-Fi directly, but she and composer George Antheil invented frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II, a key precursor to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, by patenting a system to guide torpedoes secretly. While the military didn't use it then, her idea of rapidly changing frequencies laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication, earning her the nickname "mother of Wi-Fi".
What is the most famous thing a woman has invented?
- The Dishwasher (Josephine Cochrane in 1887) ...
- Wireless Transmission Technology (Hedy Lamarr, 1942) ...
- Closed-Circuit Television Security (CCTV) (Marie Van.
- The Modern Paper Bag (Margaret Knight, 1871) ...
- Central Heating (Alice Parker, 1919) ...
- Kevlar (Stephanie Kwolek, 1965) ...
- Computer Software (Grace Murray Hopper, 1944)
Who is the most famous female genius?
Marie Curie
In France, she fell in love with the scientist Pierre Curie. She started to live and work with him, and they were married in 1895. In 1903, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics – together with Antoine Henri Becquerel – for the discovery of, and research on, spontaneous radioactivity.
Who is the most famous woman to ever exist?
Virgin Mary, 1st-century BC–1st-century AD. The mother of Jesus, Mary is venerated by both Christians and Muslims, and is probably the most famous woman in history. The actual details of her life are veiled as much as they are elucidated by the New Testament.
What famous actress has a patent?
Hedy Lamarr was one of the most popular actresses of her day, but she was also an inventor, patenting a concept known as “frequency jumping.”
Who holds the patent for WiFi?
A patent for Wi Fi was lodged by the CSIRO in 1992. The first version of the 802.11 protocol was released in 1997, and provided up to 2 Mbit/s link speeds. This was updated in 1999 with 802.11b to permit 11 Mbit/s link speeds.
Was it a woman who invented the internet?
Networking pioneer Radia Perlman invented the protocol that allows Ethernet to handle large networks. Information scientist Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler created the first directory of ARPANET's people and databases—her organization, the Network Information Center, served as an early, human-powered search engine.