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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
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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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell
UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy 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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell
Example Applications Puff-sip Opposing motion UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy 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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell
DARCI Card ($495) UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy 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, Jeremy 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, Jeremy 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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell
Incremental Design Approach • Construct a functional Morse-to-Speech application in Python (pyMTS) • Keyboard/Mouse input • Port this application to the Windows CE platform (and/or Palm?) • Cordless mouse for PDA morse input (Bluetooth?) • Morse education: design a game to teach Morse code (Morse Invaders?) UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy 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, Jeremy 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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell