Morse Code and Enabling Technology Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell

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

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell

Advantages Surprisingly rapid entry of text Surprisingly rapid entry of text Ease of use / low cost Ease of use / low cost Low need for physical ability Low need for physical ability Versatility Versatility Portability Portability Unobtrusiveness Unobtrusiveness Can aid in literacy skills Can aid in literacy skills

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell Example Applications Puff-sipOpposing motion

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell Disadvantages Low awareness  teaching not emphasized Low awareness  teaching not emphasized Difficult to learn Difficult to learn High initial error entry rate High initial error entry rate User discouragement 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) Extensive generic hardware support (DARCI) Numerous software products available for desktop computers Numerous software products available for desktop computers Valuable resource for persons with severe disabilities 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 Pursue applications of Morse Code input for PDAs / embedded systems Allow universal accessibility Allow universal accessibility Enable visually impaired with text-to- speech feedbackEnable visually impaired with text-to- speech feedback Enable physically impaired with simple and portable input optionsEnable 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 Universal design will increase functionality for all users Examples: Examples: Mobile Input (replace PDA stylus with Bluetooth device?)Mobile Input (replace PDA stylus with Bluetooth device?) Replace/augment screen output with audio feedbackReplace/augment screen output with audio feedback

UNC-CS Enabling Technology Course, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell Incremental Design Approach 1. Construct a functional Morse-to-Speech application in Python (pyMTS) Keyboard/Mouse input 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, Jeremy Cribb and Doug Daniell Progress so far… Functional program that decodes morse code as input and outputs Functional program that decodes morse code as input and outputs text to a display fieldtext to a display field audio feedback after each letter, using a TTS engine and MSSAPI – also reads each completed word and sentenceaudio feedback after each letter, using a TTS engine and MSSAPI – also reads each completed word and sentence Focus is on universal accessibility Focus is on universal accessibility Demo! 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 Modern Morse Code in Rehabilitation and Education: New Applications in Assistive Technology by Tomas Wayne