In 1836, Samuel
Morse demonstrated the ability of a telegraph system to transmit
information over wires.
The information was sent as a series of electrical signals.
Short signals are referred to as dits (represented as dots).
Long signals are referred to as dahs (represented as dashes).
With the advent of radio communications, an international version
of Morse code became widely used.
The most well-known usage of Morse code is for sending the distress
signal:
S O S . . . -
- - . . . The Titanic was the first
ship to use SOS, before then the distress signal was CQD -
. - . - - . - - . .
Morse code relies on precise
intervals of time between dits and dahs, between letters, and between
words.
dit 1 unit of time
dah 3 units of time
pause between letters 3 units of time
pause between words 7 units of time
The speed of transmitting Morse code is measured in WPM (words per
minute).
The word "Paris" is used as the standard length of a word.
To transmit the word "Paris" requires 50 units of time.
If you transmitted the word "Paris" 5 times, you would be transmitting
at 5 WPM.
An experienced Morse code operator can transmit and receive information
at 20-30 WPM.
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