Morse Code: History and Modern Usage
Explore the history of Morse code, how it works, and its modern applications in amateur radio and accessibility.
Morse code is a method of encoding text as sequences of dots and dashes (or short and long signals). Invented by Samuel Morse in the 1830s, it revolutionized long-distance communication.
How It Works
Each letter is represented by a unique sequence of dots (.) and dashes (-). E = ., T = -, A = .-, S = ..., O = ---. Spaces separate letters, and longer pauses separate words.
SOS: The Universal Distress Signal
SOS (... --- ...) was chosen not because it stands for anything, but because its pattern is easy to recognize: three dots, three dashes, three dots.
Modern Usage
While no longer used for commercial communication, Morse code survives in amateur radio, aviation navigation aids (VOR identifiers), and assistive technology (some accessibility devices use Morse-like input).