Lamarr and Anthiel received a patent in 1941, but the enormous significance of their invention was not realized until decades later. It was first implemented on naval ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequently emerged in numerous military applications.
Cash back credit card reward programs started out rather simply, offering a flat percentage rate (typically 1 percent of purchases) rebated back to the customer in the form of a check at the end of the year or a statement credit.
Credit card companies are in the business of making money, yet they often advertise incentives that feature rewards such as cash back on credit card purchases. For example, Chase (JPM) offers up to 5% cash back on its Chase Freedom Rewards Card, as does the Discover Card (DFS).