Titanicradio engineers shot out a Morse code distress signal to anyone listening in on April 14, 1912: "Come at once. We have struck a 'berg."
During WWI and WWII, Morse code was instrumental in sending distress signals, with the famous SOS signal (- - - . . . - - -) becoming universally recognized as a call for help.
More recently, K-Pop bands like South Korea’s TXT are using Morse code to leak hints about upcoming songs, music videos, and to message fans about upcoming releases.
So what exactly is Morse code and how do you add ‘dots’ and ‘dashes’ (or dits and dahs) to your digital world?
You can download a free Morse code app, memorize the rules, or go old school and keep a chart handy. International Morse code is the most commonly used code and includes ISO basic alphabet and some Latin characters.
Morse code is usually transmitted by on-off keying of an information-carrying medium like an electric current or radio waves but it can also be sent in a form perceptible to the human senses such as sound waves or visible light.
No matter the method you choose, you can quickly be chatting in a secret, coded language.
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Titanicradio engineers shot out a Morse code distress signal to anyone listening in on April 14, 1912: "Come at once. We have struck a 'berg."
During WWI and WWII, Morse code was instrumental in sending distress signals, with the famous SOS signal (- - - . . . - - -) becoming universally recognized as a call for help.
More recently, K-Pop bands like South Korea’s TXT are using Morse code to leak hints about upcoming songs, music videos, and to message fans about upcoming releases.
So what exactly is Morse code and how do you add ‘dots’ and ‘dashes’ (or dits and dahs) to your digital world?
You can download a free Morse code app, memorize the rules, or go old school and keep a chart handy. International Morse code is the most commonly used code and includes ISO basic alphabet and some Latin characters.
Morse code is usually transmitted by on-off keying of an information-carrying medium like an electric current or radio waves but it can also be sent in a form perceptible to the human senses such as sound waves or visible light.
No matter the method you choose, you can quickly be chatting in a secret, coded language.
Samuel Morse, an American painter and inventor, wanted to transmit messages over long distances so together with his collaborator, Alfred Vail, they developed the precursor to Morse code, known as Morse's Signaling Alphabet.
In 1837, Morse and Vail utilized a series of electrical pulses to represent letters and numbers. By 1844, the code we now recognize as Morse code was officially introduced. It revolutionized global communication, enabling messages to be transmitted rapidly across vast distances. The simplicity of the code made it accessible and adaptable, leading to its widespread adoption by various industries, including maritime, military, and telecommunications.
Morse code remains a testament to human ingenuity, serving as a reminder of the transformative power of communication and its impact on shaping the course of history.
Katy Perry's Morse code Secret
Singing legend Katy Perry pulled off a dazzling Morse code spectacle at the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles in 2013, creating history with her ingenious promotion. She convinced record label bigwigs to let her commandeer the Tower needle.
The Capitol roof lights transformed into a mesmerizing display, flashing out the title and release date of her album Prism in the timeless dots-and-dashes radio code.
Katy, standing amid the glow of her Morse code masterpiece, shared the secret revelation, "That little red light up there? It used to spell out Capitol, but we flipped the script months ago. Now it blinks, 'Katy Perry. Prism. October 22nd, 2013.'
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