Morse code is a system telegraphic which can be used in several languages. It is composite by points, traces and spaces that represent letters, numbers and signs from score and was used by governments and the military.
This system allows the transmission of messages at a distance, by wire or by radio, through short and long duration sounds.
Morse Alphabet
| a | • — | j | • — — — | s | • • • |
| b | — • • • | k | — • — | t | — |
| c | — • — • | l | • — • • | u | • • — |
| d | — • • | m | — — | v | • • • — |
| and | • | n | — • | w | • — — |
| f | • • — • | the | — — — | x | — • • — |
| g | — — • | p | • — — • | y | — • — — |
| h | • • • • | q | — — • — | z | — — • • |
| i | • • | r | • — • |
Function
Connected by wires and electromagnets, a pencil made of iron moved by a coil instantly marks the signals on paper received through short (so-called “DIT”) and long sounds (so-called “DAH”). "DAH" are three times longer than short sounds. Through morse code it is possible to transmit ten words per minute.
Precise time intervals determine the passage from letter to letter (a short pause, the same as three “DITs”). A longer pause signals that the word is complete (same as seven “DITs”).
The most internationally known signal is the SOS distress call:
• • • — — — • • •
History
The invention dates from 1835 and is by the American Samuel Morse (1791-1892), who, following the discovery of electricity, became interested in the subject. Morse code was tested extensively until the transmission of its first message from the cities of Washington to Baltimore, in 1844, which consisted of the following sentence:“What works has God done!”.
As flaws were discovered, however, the code was difficult to use, so it was revised and corrected, and was ready in 1851.
The code becomes more and more obsolete due to technological advances, and is still only used in amateur radio.
It became a heritage of telegraphy, as it was the first way to communicate in real time, followed by the radio and the telephone. Morse code revolutionized maritime and land communications.
Since 2003, morse code includes @ (• • • — • —); it was the first change that happened for many years.
What such know more alphabets? Read:
- Alphabet Types
- International Phonetic Alphabet
- Greek Alphabet
- History of Writing
- Alphabet Origin
And also read Media.