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The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

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Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#21
post #3

Ten years ago, I made a very stupid website: a public chat that anyone can join, where you can communicate only in morse code, by tapping a single button. Since then, I've been surprised to see a large community grow around it. More and more people are picking up morse code every day, and they appear to come from all over the world, and from all age groups.

This is what I've been looking for! I've wanted to learn CW for years now but had nobody to talk to and the idea of going on public airwaves without any CW experience except practice drills didn't do a whole lot to motivate me.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#22

A few months ago I had Claude build a morse code trainer web app, it was pretty fun but my interest waned: https://morsetrainer.linsomniac.com/

Can you give advice on how to learn code? Do you perform it aurally only? Or is it worth trying to memorize the dots and dashes from a chart? https://i.imgur.com/Jw9ZdLw.jpeg

I haven't learned, but I would guess that starting with a few letters, then using spaced repetition to add more and more. Since you usually hear, not read code, aurally is probably most useful. I'm sure there are apps for this now.

The good thing is the human brain is quite good at associating specific sounds with meanings, as this is how all spoken language works. So you're just learning some new sounds for letters, not a completely new way to represent information. I'd guess that part comes pretty quickly for most people.

Learning to tap out the letters on a key is probably a bit more challenging, as that requires some physical dexterity, but like playing a musical instrument, I'm sure most people can become at least adequate at it with some practice.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#23
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Found it: https://morse.halb.it/ Source: https://github.com/robalb/morsechat

Is it supposed to have audio? I didn't hear anything.

Takes a few seconds for audio to start.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#24
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I respect you not linking the website to farm clicks. That said, drop the website link please.

The other side of it may be that the community that has grown around it is now just going to be annoyed by a bunch of people writing gibberish in their chat for the better part of 24 hours. :)

Well for their sake hopefully it's just September and not Eternal September.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#25
One of the interesting things I've heard about morse code is that once you get familiar with it you can start identifying who is sending by the slight variations and syncopations in how they send. It is almost like everyone has their own voice that is often identifiable to those familiar with it.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#26
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it supposed to have audio? I didn't hear anything.

I heard incoming audio after I keyed once.

makes sense most browsers don't allow autoplaying sound without interaction first.

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#27
post #24
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other side of it may be that the community that has grown around it is now just going to be annoyed by a bunch of people writing gibberish in their chat for the better part of 24 hours. :)

Well for their sake hopefully it's just September and not Eternal September.

I've been hearing "Eternal September" for a few things over the past few days what does that mean? Just annoyance at new users or tourists or what?

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#28
One of my favorite stories about Morse Code:

Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone) [0] went deaf later in life. He would go to meetings with his assistant and when some asked Bell a question, he would pause, say let me think about that, pause again, and then give a response

What was actually happening was that his assistant was using Morse Code + Phillips Code [1] to tap out the question on Bell's leg under the table. Apparently, no one ever figured out they were doing this.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend the Victorian Internet [2] which is about the telegraph and how it was discovered, adopted and then became ubiquitous. I first read it in the late 2000s and assumed it had been written a year or two earlier but was surprised to learn it had been written in the 1990s given how prescient it was. e.g. it mentioned how local newspapers shut down because who cares about local news when you have global news?

There is also a mention of how being a telegraph operator was VERY similar to be a SWE in the late 2010s in that it paid well, job mobility was very high and it was a hard skill to learn. Edison actually got his seed capital by being a telegraph operator who pivoted into repairing telegraph equipment. There are also many comparisons that can be made to AI and how it's being adopted in the economy and affecting SWEs.

0 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell

1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Code

2 - https://amzn.to/4wx75KY (Victorian Internet)

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#29

A few months ago I had Claude build a morse code trainer web app, it was pretty fun but my interest waned: https://morsetrainer.linsomniac.com/

That’s a great one.

Here’s another one:

https://morse.withgoogle.com/learn/

Re: The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

#30

One of the interesting things I've heard about morse code is that once you get familiar with it you can start identifying who is sending by the slight variations and syncopations in how they send. It is almost like everyone has their own voice that is often identifiable to those familiar with it.

That is true, but it's mostly true of people sending using a straight key (basically a simple button) or a bug (semi-automated key). Most morse code operators these days use a keyer paddle, and a fair number use a computer to send morse code. Since those generate the actual dots and dashes for you, and have precise timing, you end up with less variation between people.
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