Hobbies And Interests
Dots and Dashes
Morse code is often recognized in its print form by the distinct symbols it uses, a series of dots, dashes and spaces that stand for the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0 through 9 and some remedial punctuation marks. These were devised by Morse after a visit to a newspaper printing department. He noticed that some letters were used more frequently than others in setting type, and he used that information when developing the code. You might think a code that strings together a series of dots and dashes for words would produce slow, inarticulate messages, but experienced operators can have conversations at speeds of 20 to 30 words per minute.
Sight and Sound
Each of the dots and dashes of Morse code has an aural and visual equivalent. This characteristic means that you can use light or sound to transmit the code, making it ideal when more sophisticated forms of voice or data transmission are unavailable. An example would be between two ships at sea that have lost radio contact. Employment in the airline industry requires some knowledge of Morse code. Navigational aids transmits an automated signal of three letters that identify an airport or other location, and pilots can use this to guide them to their destination or determine their location if other instruments are not functioning.
On and Off Code
Some may think that Morse code resembles the computer language binary code, which uses 0s and 1s to communicate. However, Morse code is not a binary code because the spaces between the dots and dashes are also significant. Morse is what is known as "on off" code, which means that all you need to transmit it is a constant signal -- whether it's sound, light or text -- that is controlled by a switch that you can turn on and off at varying intervals.
Pounding Brass
The hardware to transmit the dots, spaces and dashes of Morse code also have improved, making it even easier to transmit. The simple machine that Samuel F.B. Morse first built was fit with a brass piece that the operator would hit repeatedly to transmit the code, hence the expression "pounding brass," which referred to the practice when it was new. More recent technology includes automatic electronic keyers and computer-generated Morse code. Morse code is not typically transmitted by hand now except by hobbyists or in the event that no other means of communication is available.