Canadian wireless inventor helped save WWII troops

Among the people inducted into Canada’s Telecommunications Hall of Fame this year is one man whose name you might not recognize, but whose wireless technology invention helped save thousands of lives in World War II. Burnaby BC resident Donald Hings invented the two-way radio – a.k.a. the walkie-talkie. At a gala presentation in October, the Hall of Fame welcomed Hings (1907-2003) as one of the class of 2006’s laureates. His biography paints the picture of a brilliant mind bolstered by a highly honed ability to concentrate. Interested in radio engineering from a young age, Hings taught himself the ins and outs of the technology. He came up with many two-way radio designs before devising his most well-known device. The walkie-talkie came about in 1937 during Hings’ employment at Cominco, a mining company. He created the radio for geologists working in remote locations – a way for them to call for help. Over time Hings further developed the radio – made it waterproof, improved the sound quality, added noise filters and speech scramblers. The military caught wind of this wireless wonder and called Hings in to aid the war effort. Seconded to Ottawa, Hings sharpened the technology even more, and saw his invention delivered to more than 17,000 allied troops. Historians credit the walkie-talkie with helping to save many lives during the massive conflict. They also say the walkie-talkie is the progenitor of the two-way communicators we use today, such as smartphones. Hings was made a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He retired in 1986 as a member of the Geophysical Union, and the Association of Professional Engineers of British Columbia – even though he never attended university. In 2001 Hings received the Order of Canada. Even in retirement he ran what some describe as a mad scientist’s laboratory, where he continued to research and develop radio technology and instrumentation. But Hings never said much about inventing the walkie-talkie. According to Morgan Burke, Hings’ grandson, the inventor seemed more interested in building new equipment than resting on his laurels, having registered 50 patents over his 96-year-long life. "He would have been pleased about the recognition," Burke said at the Hall of Fame gala, accepting the laureate award on his grandfather’s behalf. "But he wasn’t in it for the fame." Indeed, as one of Canada’s most prolific inventors, it seems Hings sought to improve quality of life, not his reputation.

Canadian wireless inventor helped save WWII troops

News | November 3, 2006

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