Morse Code Faster Than SMS

mentalflossboy writes "Engadget is reporting that Morse Code is actually faster than text messaging. According to the article, 93 year old Gordon Hill transmitted a message faster than 13 year old Brittany Devlin, despite Devlin's 'liberal use of texting slang.' And the fabulous quote they were they sending: 'Hey, girlfriend, you can text all your best pals to tell them where you are going and what you are wearing.'"

Comments

Sell me an open phone

[Sloppy]

This is another reason I would like to someday see "open" phones. I always thought it would be great to build protocols on top of the phone system (e.g. if your phone and your friend's phone both have some sort of GPG extension installed, then go ahead and encrypt end-to-end). But this article shows that the possibilities for innovation (if you can call Morse code an innovation ;-) even extend to UIs. If we had open phones, then within a few minutes of this article, some people would add a morse input interface to the text entry part of their phone. And when you think about it, it does seem pretty ridiculous that a handful of companies could possibly come up with whatever UI happens to be the best possible.

Electronics companies, go on making the hardware. But let us screw around with the software. If you remember a little something called "the internet" you'll realize that there are a hell of a lot of good ideas out there (as well as a hell of a lot of really dumb ones, but let's not talk about that).

Re:Sell me an open phone

[TheSpoom]

Most phones with Java support M2M, so you could install a Java app on both phones and communicate that way.

Re:Well of course

[citking]

Morse code takes way more talent than I've got. I give the guy props.

Re:ewww

[nxtw]

Every time there's an article related to cell phone technology, trolls like these get modded Insightful. Simple phones still exist, and cell phone companies will continue to try to find more ways to make money. However, that doesn't mean you have to give them more money; most plans are still voice-only. While you may not find some features useful, others will.

Also, text messaging is *extremely* convenient at certain times.

Re:Newsflash!

[Capt'n Hector]

I assume from your post that you've never tried to call someone from a concert or a party (hey this is /. after all) where there's loud music. There really are times when you can't hear shit.

Re:Newsflash!

[zeromemory]

it doesn't make you look like an idiot

Newsflash:

Most people would rather have you text than yap loudly on the phone in public places.

Don't get me wrong, voice chat is usually more efficient, but text messaging is a whole lot more discreet. My friends and I use it to schedule study-groups - that way, we can notify someone of a meeting later that day while they're still in class.

Re:Newsflash!

[Xugumad]

Texting is great for either messages that require no response ("I'll be in the pub from 6, feel free to join me", "It's 's birthday on Friday, thought you might want a reminder", "Arrrghh I hate Mondays/my boss/computers/the weather", etc.), or where a response is not time critical, and likely to be delayed ("Can you tell me ", "Are you free next week sometime"), this sort of thing.

In particular, you don't have to interrupt the other person to get your message across. I may notice a message arriving, and read it at the time, or I may leave it until I'm less busy, or more frequently I'll just not notice for a few hours. On the other hand, if someone calls me, I have to stop what I'm doing, respond to them, then go back to what I'm doing.