Computer Superheroes

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr

Birth: November 9, 1914
Death: January 19, 2000

Major Academic Events: Growing up, Lamarr was more into arts, and she was a popular actress, but after moving to LA, she became interested in innovating and engineering. She became the first woman to receive the Invention Convention’s Bulbie Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award. Additionally, in 1997, the Electronic Frontier Foundation awarded Lamarr and Antheil with the Pioneer Award.

Contributions to Computer Science: In 1940, Lamarr and George Anthiel came up with a new communication system with radio signals, which is the base for WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. People refer to her as "the mother of Wi-Fi" for this accomplishment.

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Vinton Gray Cerf

Vint Cerf

Birth: June 23, 1943
Currently 79 years old

Major Academic Events: Cerf attended Stanford University and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1965. He worked as a system engineer at IBM, and then attended UCLA. From there, he obtained his master’s degree in 1970 as well as a doctorate in 1972; both in computer science. Later, he went back to Stanford, and collaborated with Bob Kahn, and created protocols for the internet. He won numerous awards such as the Charles Stark Draper Prize in 2001 and the Turing Award in 2004.

Contributions to Computer Science: Cerf worked with Bob Kahn and together they created protocols for the Internet. He is the co-founder of the internet which is the base platform for a computer and is something used in our everyday lives.

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Elizabeth Feinler

Elizabeth Feinler

Birth: March 2, 1931
Currently 91 years old

Major Academic Events: Feinler attended West Liberty University, where she got her bachelor's degree in chemistry.Additionally, she went to Purdue University for biochemistry.She was awarded the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award, the SRI Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Internet Hall of Fame.

Contributions to Computer Science: Fienler created domain names (.com, .org, .gov, .edu, .net). She operated a NCI, which is a network information center for the first initial internet network, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPANET).

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