Another hidden figure, Valerie Thomas. Thomas worked at NASA and invented the illusion transmitter

Dr. Valerie L. Thomas NASA Mathematician (Retired): B.S., Physics, Morgan State University; M.S., Engineering Administration, George Washington University; Certificate, Middle Management Development, Simmons College Graduate School of Management; Ph.D., Engineering, Monmouth University (honorary); Ed.D., Educational Leadership (Educational Technology focus), University of Delaware. She worked at NASA for thirty one years.

 

In 1980, she received a patent for her illusion transmitter, which uses a concave mirror on the transmitting end as well as on the receiving end to produce optical illusion images. NASA uses the technology today, and scientists are currently working on ways to  it into tools for surgeons to look inside the human body, and possibly for television sets and video screens one day.