Did you know that OnlineClock.net has a relatively new Morse Code Alarm Clock ?
Before understanding how time and Morse Code can be related, it is best to grasp a thorough understanding of Morse Code, its history and uses. Most people remember briefly learning about it in school, but only enough to know that the code is a series of tapping sounds or flashes intended to communicate a message; put into a modern perspective, Morse Code is a form of prehistoric texting.
Morse Code has a fascinating history; it has helped shaped communication technology into what it is today.
A Portrait of Samuel F.B. Morse as a young inventor.
In 1835, Samuel F.B. Morse, a Design and Arts professor at New York University, conceived the idea for a code to be transmitted by wire, creating a signal representing a message. This was the birth of the code that would be widely used for over a century. Morse Code, in its true definition, is a textual exchange system used to transmit messages by means of on and off patterns of tones, taps, clicks or lights. Samuel Morse’s original design was a device that used pulses to move an electromagnet; the electromagnet was connected to a writing utensil that would in turn place dots on a piece of paper. One year later, Morse improved the design to actually emboss the paper, using both dashes and dots for clarification. He introduced his revolutionary idea in 1838 publicly, but the system would not be tested until 1843. When it was finally tested, an 40-mile experimental electric line was run from Washington to Boston. Although the first successful telegraph message was sent on this line to confirm the news of Henry Clay being appointed for a national convention in 1844, the first famous message was the one that marked the official opening of the line. Morse selected Annie Ellsworth, the daughter of a friend, to pen the message to be sent. She chose the Biblical verse from Numbers “What hath God wrought?” to be sent – and the message was successful.
A Diagram Explaining Morse Code
When Morse Code was introduced in 1847 in Germany, the code itself had been modified from Morse’s original code. Using a dot-dash system, the new code was modified so that transmissions were longer, but the messages were more simple for the telegrapher to detect. Many other areas in Germany and Austria also adopted the telegraphy and Morse Code transmission system after this. Later in 1852, Germany and Austria combined their individual codes to create a uniform code. In the United States, Morse Code was becoming the main form of long-distance communication by this time. Now an international company, Western Union opened in the United States in 1851, specializing in telegrams – electronic messages sent via Morse Code on the telegraph. This was a promising mass job opportunity, but employees had to adhere to very strict rules. Rule #50 in Cleveland, Ohio’s 1866 Western Union Telegraph Employee Handbook said about received messages “The operator who receives it, must copy it plainly, and then repeat it back over the same circuit before doing any other business.”
Over the next few decades, Morse Code would play a vital role in the development of the Western territories in the United States. Messages delivered by Morse Code over a telegraph were highly welcomed, replacing most of the Pony Express’ business. Until the arrival of Morse Code messages, the Pony Express was not very reliable, as riders were ambushed frequently and mail was then lost. Truly a perilous profession, ads for the Pony Express requested “preferably orphans, young wiry lads, willing to risk death daily.” Needless to say, the telegraph was much more reliable than ground delivery of mail. Families in eastern states were able to know their relatives arrived safely and receive updates; Morse Code was even more useful among those who relied upon it for important business communications, news from the west or east and information related to the planning and building of railroads. With yellow fever, smallpox and many other diseases running rampant among traveling pioneers, Morse Code messages were also used to warn others back home and those planning to travel about the outbreaks. Those who couldn’t afford the prices of a telegram had to make due with letters; in 1851, while only a few cents were required to mail a letter, telegrams averaged between 35 cents and a dollar for a 10-word message.
Morse Code is most famous because of its usefulness during major wars in history. Although the true Morse Code was not used during the Civil War, a form of telegraphy signal code created by Albert Vail was used, referred to as “American Morse Code“. The dawning of World War I was a pivotal part of Morse Code’s history. In nearly every city and village, one or more job positions opened for military telegraphy. Telegraphers would sit in an office, receiving messages over the wire about news of the war and lists of dead soldiers who were native to the area. Communications between military offices and bases were also heavily reliant upon Morse Code through telegraphy; codes were often transmitted in yet another form of code, usually quirky-sounding phrases. From 1890 until 1919, radio stations would broadcast messages in Morse Code, often working with the Navy.
The Navy uses signaling lights; they have used them for many years, the most common models being the Aldis lamps. Aldis lamps were originally made in the late 19th century and used by Britain’s Royal Navy, but they were also soon adopted by the U.S Navy. Navy ships today still have these lamps, which are used during times when radio silence is ordered, providing an alternative form of communication. Signaling lights are very powerful and are used to create a blinking message in Morse Code from one ship to another or to a base by way of a large lamp mounted on the ship. Both the NATO and Commonwealth Navies use Morse Code today when radio communication may be intercepted. The last 4 stations that communicated with ships through electric telegraphy came to an end in 1999. Replaced by wireless telegraphy using Morse Code, the closing of these stations was the end of electric telegraphy 
A child's toy version of a Navy Signal Light...
This once-revolutionary method of communication known as Morse Code has today been replaced by telephones, email and cell phones.
Purposes for Morse Code are enacted when these electronic devices may not be used, which mostly limits it to nautical uses. While the Navy is the main user of Morse Code, the code is often used by other vessels in communication. Most ship and boat captains are familiar with at least the emergency messages of Morse Code. Although learning Morse Code may be difficult to do in a short amount of time, everyone should at least be familiar with this code: “… _ _ _ …”, meaning S.O.S. (Save Our Ship). This signal is performed by three quick flashes, then three longer blinks, followed by three additional quick flashes. People stranded at sea have even been able to use a shiny object to reflect the sunlight toward a far-off ship in this pattern, saving their lives. Another use today for Morse Code is by those with oral or auditory disabilities; one former shipboard operator was able to successfully communicate with his doctor by blinking in Morse Code.
And last but far from least, Morse Code is still today used in our Morse Code Alarm Clock, a quaint reminder of the incredible usefulness of this simple form of communication.
We invite you to examine our Morse Code Chart and see if you can figure out how to read the current time using our Morse Code Alarm Clock. As with all of our other online alarm clocks, this one also has a fully functional alarm system that you can use to set handy online reminders or even wake yourself up with in the morning. Give it a try.
Although not particularly popular in this modern day of high-tech, Morse Code is still beneficial and useful…and geekily good, which is the reason why OnlineClock.net says, “For those of you about to Morse Code, we salute you!”.
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