Puzzle Description:

During World War II, Hedy Lamarr came up with frequency-hopping torpedo launch signals, to avoid jamming. Sadly, she had difficulty getting the military to take her seriously, so her invention was not implemented in time to help WWII sailors.

#1: Kristen Vognild (kristen) on Sep 16, 2013 [SPOILER]

From Wikipedia (other articles exist, but this is a good summary):
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum

Avant garde composer George Antheil (died 1959), a son of German immigrants and a neighbor of Lamarr in California, had experimented with automated control of musical instruments, including his music for Ballet Mécanique, originally written for Fernand Léger's 1924 abstract film. This score involved multiple player pianos playing simultaneously. During World War II Lamarr realized that a single radio-controlled torpedo could severely damage and sink enemy ships. However, these radio-controlled torpedoes could easily be detected and jammed by broadcasting interference at the frequency of the control signal, thereby causing the torpedo to go off course.

Using knowledge of torpedoes gained from her first husband, the munitions manufacturer Friedrich Mandl, Antheil and Lamarr developed the idea of using frequency hopping: in this case using a piano roll to randomly change the signal sent between a control center and the torpedo at short bursts within a range of 88 frequencies in the radio-frequency spectrum (there are 88 black and white keys on a piano keyboard). The specific code for the sequence of frequencies would be held identically by the controlling ship and in the torpedo. This basically encrypted the signal. It was impossible for the enemy to scan and jam all 88 frequencies, as this would require too much power or complexity. The frequency-hopping sequence was controlled by a player-piano mechanism, which Antheill had earlier used to score his Ballet Mecanique.

On August 11, 1942, U.S. Patent 2,292,387 was granted to Antheil and "Hedy Kiesler Markey", Lamarr's married name at the time. This early version of frequency hopping, although novel, soon met with opposition from the U.S. Navy and was not adopted. The idea was not implemented in the USA until 1962, when it was used by U.S. military ships during a blockade of Cuba after the patent had expired. Perhaps owing to this lag in development, the patent was little known until 1997, when the Electronic Frontier Foundation gave Lamarr a belated award for her contributions. In 1998, an Ottawa wireless technology developer, Wi-LAN Inc., acquired a 49% claim to the patent from Lamarr for an undisclosed amount of stock.

Lamarr's and Antheil's frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as Bluetooth, COFDM (used in Wi-Fi network connections), and CDMA (used in some cordless and wireless telephones). Blackwell, Martin, and Vernam's 1920 patent Secrecy Communication System (1598673) seems to lay the communications groundwork for Kiesler and Antheil's patent, which employed the techniques in the autonomous control of torpedoes.

Lamarr wanted to join the National Inventors Council but was reportedly told by NIC member Charles F. Kettering and others that she could better help the war effort by using her celebrity status to sell War Bonds.

Excellent in all respects! Thanks!

Beautiful puzzle, beautiful story. I was not aware of this aspect of her life. Of course, this was during the time when Hollywood controlled the lives of its stars and you only heard what they dictated, true or not.

thanks for a fab. entry, Kristen

Wow what a great image Kristen,and thx for the history info.:)

fantastic! image gets ***** from me! cool info/idea as well

Thanks, everyone!

Excellent image and wonderful story with a super title. Thank you. My granddaughter's favourite school subject has always been science, but at almost 10 years old she hasn't decided what she'd like to be when she grows up -- to either follow in her uncle's footsteps and be a biomedical engineer, or to be a pop star, lol.

The world needs more female scientists!

I am reminded of the time decades ago when my sister was in university and couldn't decide whether to be a plant biologist or a dancer, and my mother told her, "You can be both, but first be a biologist and then be a dancer." She actually became a physician and then when she could afford it she built a mirrored studio with a barre in her home. Do you think my granddaughter would follow my recommendation to first be a biomedical engineer and then be a pop star?

When you look at pop stars today, it is very discouraging. Sadly, so many become jaded drug addicts with no morals. I would strongly encourage bio-medical engineering. At least in that field lives can be saved.

life is different for each of us, and it depends on the individual. I would say first find peace with yourself, then go from there. after that, whatever happens happens.

what a beautifully drawn puzzle. this was a very satisfying solve for me. and I love the story behind it. I'm always learning something new from the puzzlers on this site.

Beautiful! thanks :)

@10 Lollipop - She should follow in the footsteps of Buckaroo Banzai: neurosurgeon by day, rockstar by night.

Ha!

Congrats on runner up auntie Kristen.:)

Thanks! It was just an excuse to do a portrait of a pretty lady. :)

And a great one!

lovely, Kristen... and congratulations!

Thank you thank you!

Totally awesome!!

Fabulous puzzle. Terrific story. Great comments.

I think I learn more here than any other site on the internet.

Hey Lollipop? Your granddaughter must be about 19 now. Has she decided yet between biomedical engineer and pop star? Inquiring minds want to know!

This is stunning

Oh my goodness, Valerie, what fun to find your question almost ten years later! Yes, my granddaughter will be 19 next month. She has a different plan now. She earned loads of prizes, awards, and scholarships at her high school graduation last year, including the overall achievement award for various courses in Equity and Social Justice. At the moment she plans to become a clinical psychologist and is heading into second year undergrad at McGill U in the honours psych program, having decided against neuroscience, but she allows for a possible change in her path before grad school, potentially environmental or immigration law, i.e. some other professional pursuit that will help people. (I have said since she was a toddler that she has the kindest heart I know.) As for being a pop star, Covid put a pretty big dent in her aspirations and her ability to follow through at a critical time, but she still sings and is a songwriter. Her mom, my daughter, organized a recording session for her as her high school graduation gift, so she now has some of her songs on Spotify to join the less professional videos from her younger years on YouTube.

Oh neat! That is very cool!!

I like/enjoy everything about this puzzle. Just so lovely, Kristen! It was also fun to "catch up" on your Grand's accomplishments, Lollipop! Talk about a feel good puzzle and feel good comments!

Goto next topic

You must register and log in to be able to participate in this discussion.