Video: Morse coders beating SMSers

Morsecode-Th Jay Leno did a text off between two text messengers and two Morse coders. Here's a video of it (WMV). The Morse coders handily beat the young whippersnappers with time to spare. Comments from the Morse code guys here. It might be a fun phone app to make a Morse code messenger, if you kept your headset in and had an external sender, could be interesting. Perhaps a Morse code Skype device...[via Waxy].


Related:

Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: DulcetTone on May 25, 2005 at 7:06 AM

Been there!

In 2003, I created a Morse Chat client on the Danger hip-top. It was compatible with a web applet and could freely translate text to Morse and Morse to text.

For instance, those wishing to hear the chat as Morse code could do so, or they could see flashing LEDs, or even receive it as long and short vibrations. Text entered by key would relay the original timing of its encoding for faithful synthesis on the receiving clients, and text entered by typing would generate robotically perfect pulse streams.

My web page on it is HERE.


Posted by: airship on May 25, 2005 at 10:30 AM


My late father was a member of the ORT (Order of Railroad Telegraphers) and I remember sitting with him at the depot in the late 50's/early 60's as he 'talked' with other telegraphers. He'd listen to a quick string of dots and dashes and laugh, and I'd have to ask him to tell me the joke. It would take him longer to tell it verbally than it had for it to be sent by code!!!
I inherited his 'bug', the automatic sending key he used. *sigh* all I can do with it is make noise. :(


Posted by: vinmar on May 25, 2005 at 1:15 PM

I typed in the message on my phone alongside the video on watching it through the second time and beat them both by a long way.

I think the guy texting must not be using predictive text but multitap instead?


Posted by: zlgeraibegnst@mailinator.com on June 3, 2005 at 2:32 AM

Now, this is really stupid. Of course the Morse coders are going to win. If you're going to use Morse code (or if you've memorized all the letter signals), chances are that you've had quite a bit of practice with it. The people Morse coding were professionals and the cell phone guy was just some kid they pulled off of the street.


Posted by: orndorffr on June 3, 2005 at 4:09 AM

Those were *not* some random kids off the street - they were champion text messengers that had won a text messenging speed competition. I think that makes it a fair competition. The morse code guys were not professionals, it's just their hobby (Ham radio).


Posted by: SergeAStorms on June 3, 2005 at 4:13 PM

The error is that it takes a certain amount of time for the text message to travel through the phone network and reach the recipient. It is not instantly transmitted from phone to phone. That time can vary, but I have seen it take as long as 30 seconds. It's not a fair test for the sms-er.


Posted by: whacker on June 3, 2005 at 5:12 PM

Fraid not Serge. If you watch the video, it's clear that the sms sender is still trying to punch in his message when the morse sender finishes. I don't see the network delay being an issue there.

It's a no brainer that morse is faster than typing with your thumbs.


Posted by: jörg on November 25, 2006 at 8:59 AM

65465


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

How-to videos for Makers and Crafers!


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television
MAKE: en Español MAKE: Japan

Make: television
Make: television is here! Visit makezine.tv or iTunes to see all the episodes.

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter

    MAKE's RSS feed is here.
    Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
    How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
    Add MAKE on FriendFeed


    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!

    MAKE wins Treehugger Best of Green Award

    MAKE wins Brit Insurance Design Award

    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online authors!

    Gareth Branwyn, Chris Connors (guest author), Collin Cunningham, Marc de Vinck, Peter Horvath (intern), Kip Kay, Goli Mohammadi, John Park, Sean Ragan, Becky Stern, Phillip Torrone

    Suggest a Site!

    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Fire Piston Make your own fire starter that uses compressed air and burns at 500 degrees! Thanks to Bill Gurstelle for showing us this at Maker Faire. To download The Fire Piston MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes. Pick up... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:






    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog