Saturday, April 27, 2024

The Morse Code on This Day in History

 

On this day in 1794 Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Morse code was born. Morse Code is now often called the Victorian Internet. 

Did you know that Morse Code has also been used as an alternative form of communication for people with disabilities or whom have their abilities to communicate impaired by stroke, heart attack, or paralysis. There have been several cases where individuals have been able to use their eyelids to communicate in Morse Code by using a series of long and quick blinks to represent the dots and dashes.

The most famous signal in Morse Code is the SOS distress signal. "The inception of this signal emerged in the early 20th century, during a period when burgeoning global communication necessitated a standardized, unmistakable cry for aid.

Contrary to popular belief and the annals of maritime folklore, the abbreviation 'SOS' was never intended as an acronym for phrases such as 'Save Our Souls' or 'Save Our Ship.' Instead, its selection was far more pragmatic.

The chief merit of the SOS sequence lies in its distinctiveness—the simplicity and rhythm of its three short signals, followed by three long and then three short again, rendered it unmistakably clear in even the most adverse conditions.

At the 1906 Berlin Radiotelegraphic Conference, the SOS signal was formally introduced as an international distress call, superseding previous, more convoluted signals. It was hoped that such a distinct pattern would minimize any risk of misinterpretation across the vast expanses of the world's oceans and tumultuous airwaves." Source

Also, there is a Morse Code translator online. https://morsecode.world/international/translator.html


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