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Morse Code as Enabling Technology

Morse Code, invented in the 1800s, serves as an effective method for long-distance communication, particularly for individuals with disabilities due to its binary nature and ease of use. While it offers advantages like rapid text entry and portability, it faces challenges such as low awareness and a steep learning curve. Current efforts aim to enhance its accessibility through applications in modern technology, including mobile devices and educational tools.

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2 views13 pages

Morse Code as Enabling Technology

Morse Code, invented in the 1800s, serves as an effective method for long-distance communication, particularly for individuals with disabilities due to its binary nature and ease of use. While it offers advantages like rapid text entry and portability, it faces challenges such as low awareness and a steep learning curve. Current efforts aim to enhance its accessibility through applications in modern technology, including mobile devices and educational tools.

Uploaded by

செந்தில் குமார்
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Morse Code and

Enabling Technology
Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell
What is Morse Code?
 Invented in 1800s as a method for
long-distance communication
 Ideal for electrical communication,
due to its binary nature
 Represents the letters of the
alphabet as electric pulses
 Composed of dits (.) and dahs (-)

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere
my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Advantages
 Surprisingly rapid entry of text
 Ease of use / low cost
 Low need for physical ability
 Versatility
 Portability
 Unobtrusiveness
 Can aid in literacy skills

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Example Applications

Puff-sip Opposing motion

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Disadvantages
 Low awareness  teaching not
emphasized
 Difficult to learn
 High initial error entry rate
 User discouragement

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
DARCI Card ($495)

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Current State of Morse Code as
an Enabling Technology
 Extensive generic hardware support
(DARCI)
 Numerous software products
available for desktop computers
 Valuable resource for persons with
severe disabilities

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
How can we extend this
technology?
 Pursue applications of Morse Code
input for PDAs / embedded systems
 Allow universal accessibility
• Enable visually impaired with text-to-
speech feedback
• Enable physically impaired with simple
and portable input options

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Further Benefits
 Universal design will increase
functionality for all users
 Examples:
• Mobile Input (replace PDA stylus with
Bluetooth device?)
• Replace/augment screen output with
audio feedback

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Incremental Design Approach
1. Construct a functional Morse-to-Speech
application in Python (pyMTS)
 Keyboard/Mouse input
2. Port this application to the Windows CE
platform (and/or Palm?)
3. Cordless mouse for PDA morse input
(Bluetooth?)
4. Morse education: design a game to teach
Morse code (Morse Invaders?)

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Progress so far…
 Functional program that decodes
morse code as input and outputs
• text to a display field
• audio feedback after each letter, using a
TTS engine and MSSAPI – also reads
each completed word and sentence
 Focus is on universal accessibility
 Demo!

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell
Credit
 Modern Morse Code in Rehabilitation
and Education: New Applications in
Assistive Technology by Tomas
Wayne

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jere


my Cribb and Doug Daniell

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