Morse Code Migrating To The Net

Rosco P. Coltrane writes "With Morse code slowly disappearing off the air, there seems to be a growing number of people who carry out conversations in Morse over the internet. Several Windows and Linux clients using VoIP or special protocols, such as EchoLink, EchoLinux, MorseMail, CW Communicator or CWirc exist for Morse lovers worldwide to pound brass and make contact with one another. Could the next must-have computer input device be a morse key ?"

Comments

I can see it now

[Sad Loser]

Dear Mr Morse
Unfortunately your patent application for a serial binary code device (RFC 1) has not been accepted, as a company called SCO claim prior art.

Pound brass?

[ryants]

... lovers worldwide to pound brass...

Can't wait until my wife comes home.

Sure!

[El]

The next big thing: horse hitch accessories on the front of cars!

Effect of Morse chat on today's youth?

[Corporate Drone]

and if you thought that on-line chatting was going to adversely effect the vocabulary, spelling, and grammar of today's youth, just wait and see what typing in Morse will do to them!

Re:Effect of Morse chat on today's youth?

[alyandon]

No doubt. Ham's shorthand puts modern day teenager IM message shorthand to shame. :)

Not if you have half a clue

[Angst Badger]

Could the next must-have computer input device be a morse key?

Something wrong with any randomly selected key on the keyboard?

Of course, the real danger is that net.poseurs will use ASCII-to-Morse translators with programmable semi-random delays to simulate mad Morse skillz.

Hey, I hear cuneiform is dying out. Will the next must-have computer input device be a slab of wet mud?

Re:Not if you have half a clue

[Elwood P Dowd]

Will the next must-have computer input device be a slab of wet mud?

Look, these anti-Macintosh trolls need to stop.

Apple's Mouse

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't a morse key describe the Apple's mouse?

Learn or go insane?

[zipwow]

Entering morse code sounds like it would be worse than trying to type on my cellphone.

I guess that's why it's not my hobby.

-Zipwow

The Next Big Thing

[volpe]

VRML smoke signals

dash dot dash dash dot dot dash

[jeffkjo1]

Did anyone know that slashdot has a filter to prevent me from posting in morse code??!?! The irony is striking.

Re:That is just plain silly

[ProfessionalCookie]

But, its like towing your car with a horse.

Not really-
With todays advanced micro electronics it's possible to create a matrix of keys each one programmed to output the morse equivalent of an alpha-numeric character. This way the sender only has to press one key one time to send a character... In fact the system could be set up so that the receiving computer automatically decodes the morse and displays it on the screen as plain text.

See, morse is for Everybody!

PS I wouldn't bother patenting that though.

If Morse-code became popular online

[phorm]

Dotdadotdotdot...etcetc

E-N-L-A-R-G-E
Y-O-U-R
P-E-hey!!!

You know somebody's gonna try it...

A Response:

[cygnus]

Could the next must-have computer input device be a morse key ?

dash dot
dash dash dash.