Portable Morse recorder
and...@intertrader.com
Hi,
Forgive me if this sounds stupid or too old-fashioned.
I spend ~100 minutes every day walking to and from work and would
often like to be able to record some of the things I am thinking
(like writing a letter to a friend - I can think what I will say,
but then forget before I can write it down).
I don't want to look unusual and I don't want to walk into lamposts
or get hit by cars, so it seemed to me that rather than reading
something I should listen to it. I'd like to be able to type on
something in a coat pocket, so it would have to be small and one-
handed. I've seen a microwriter (do they still exist?), but that's
large and complicated.
In the end I decided that something that records and plays back morse
code would be sufficient. I have various ideas for the software (editing)
and have built some hardware before (a long time ago - a Z80 based
stepper motor driver). But I have no idea what is possible with current
hardware (would I still need to blow my own EPROMS for example). Is
there some low-power consumption chip that includes a CPU, memory, and
some IO ports that can be programmed easily from a computer running
Linux?
Any comments welcome,
Cheers,
Andrew
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
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Michael D. Hofer
> In the end I decided that something that records and plays back morse
> code would be sufficient. I have various ideas for the software (editing)
> and have built some hardware before (a long time ago - a Z80 based
> stepper motor driver). But I have no idea what is possible with current
> hardware (would I still need to blow my own EPROMS for example). Is
> there some low-power consumption chip that includes a CPU, memory, and
> some IO ports that can be programmed easily from a computer running
> Linux?
Um, excuse me - do you mean records morse and then allows you to dump it
into your computer? Off-air morse readers exist, check out popular
electronics magazines with a comm bent - maybe 73, QST or Monitoring
times as well.
But recording it? And audio playback? How about a microcassette
recorder and a code practice oscillator in the pocket? Shouldn't run
more than $20.00 and take next to no construction. You could even dump
it onto your computer through the above interface.
Of course you _could_ simply go for the microcassette and (radical
idea!) actually speak into it - and then PLAY IT BACK when you have time
to type the ideas on the computer. It's called "dictation" and there
used to be workers called "stenographers" who used to make a living
doing this for others.
Oops. I forgot. We're all hardware hackers here. Okay, make the CPO
with a breadboard and a 555 timer and a 9v. ;)
--
Cian ua'Lochan /mka/ Michael D. Hofer
I'm not a medievalist - I just play one on weekends!
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/9800/
hurley bryan
at least in your car.. if you can whistle good. first do an init string of
alternating tones, 4 of each, then use the same tones to shoot out morse,
or binary, to change station, etc. not very efficient for data entry, but
sounds like James Bond, and you should at least impress someone with it.
use the upper tone for short, bottom for long, break in between
consecutive.
play back could be cheesy synthesis, I have a board for an Apple ][ for
that. entry could be morse if you have space constraints....for other than
car, or even the car app.
Bryan
In article <364716...@geocities.com>,
Salman Burkie
in-the-ear microphones will do. Only other thing might
be to have a wireless link between the two ..
with existing voice-activated recorders wouldn't need
to fiddle too much with the recorder either .. ?
-Salman
and...@intertrader.com
The idea would be to write in Morse and then download the file
as ASCII when I get home. So i can walk to work and back home
writing a book review or letter or whatever and then load it
onto the computer.
Audio playback would be for editing (it might be unwieldy!) on
the fly...
Andrew
In article <364716...@geocities.com>,
"Michael D. Hofer" <feathe...@geocities.com> wrote:
> Um, excuse me - do you mean records morse and then allows you to dump it
> into your computer? Off-air morse readers exist, check out popular
> electronics magazines with a comm bent - maybe 73, QST or Monitoring
> times as well.
>
> But recording it? And audio playback? How about a microcassette
> recorder and a code practice oscillator in the pocket? Shouldn't run
> more than $20.00 and take next to no construction. You could even dump
> it onto your computer through the above interface.>
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
Mark Willey
: The idea would be to write in Morse and then download the file
: as ASCII when I get home. So i can walk to work and back home
: writing a book review or letter or whatever and then load it
: onto the computer.
This could be accomplished easily with a microcontroller.
: Audio playback would be for editing (it might be unwieldy!) on
: the fly...
For this level of sophistication, I would suggest using a general-purpose
computer (typical wearable). If you had a sound card on it, doing the morse
encode should be relatively easy. There are probably packages out there
that will do it for you...
Mark
john flanagan
> The idea would be to write in Morse and then download the file
> as ASCII when I get home. So i can walk to work and back home
> writing a book review or letter or whatever and then load it
> onto the computer.
Heaven help you if you make a mistake. What's Morse code for backspace?
John Flanagan
sho...@usa.net
: Perhaps a micro-cassete recorder and one of those
: in-the-ear microphones will do. Only other thing might
Or maybe just an earphone like tv broadcasters have, and a cufflink
microphone...
As for ASCII and morse: i wouldn't want to work with that, as the
error rate would probably be rather high. Coming up with a little box
to time the morse consistently wouldn't be too difficult. Editing
becomes a problem -- how exactly does one backspace in morse?
Also, how normal does it look to be walking down the street with your
hand moving around in your pocket?
Perhaps this isn't a wearable issue: how about using a minirecorder
with speech-recognition software when you get in? i can't think of
too many viable solutions (though a powerglove hooked up to a
Just a side note: minirecorders seem to be a popular solution; perhaps
we need to get off the nifty-value of tiny cassettes. Maybe there's a
better, more creative tool to use? (i find that when i get stumped,
changing the materials/technique i'm working with helps)
i'm not precisely an expert, so this is about all i can offer -- sorry
to seem discouraging, i hope i've helped in some way. Good luck!
/jbm
and...@intertrader.com
I was thinking of a rocker button operated by the thumb to
move backwards or forwards (with accelerating speed and
abbreviated sounds as appropriate).
I realise it sounds pretty ancient, but I believe that with
practice the morse bit would be transparent and it has the
advantages of being easy to implement, easy to hear through
noise on the street, and allow a very compact (I hope)
design with minimal hardware....
Andrew
Mark Willey
:> The idea would be to write in Morse and then download the file
:> as ASCII when I get home. So i can walk to work and back home
:> writing a book review or letter or whatever and then load it
:> onto the computer.
: Heaven help you if you make a mistake. What's Morse code for backspace?
Lots o' dots. (I don't know that this is formalized anywhere, but that's
what is done in practice.)
A good Morse intro:
http://www.kluft.com/~ikluft/ham/morse-intro.html
Mark
Chris Taylor
Mark Willey wrote in message <72cvnt$le7$1...@nntp.Stanford.EDU>...
>john flanagan <flan...@enteract.com> wrote:
>: Heaven help you if you make a mistake. What's Morse code for backspace?
>
>Lots o' dots. (I don't know that this is formalized anywhere, but that's
>what is done in practice.)
>
Eight dots - like this ---> ........ Means 'error'
--... ...-- (73s, ancient code for goodbye!)
and...@intertrader.com
<sho...@usa.net> wrote:
> Also, how normal does it look to be walking down the street with your
> hand moving around in your pocket?
In Edinburgh, in November, pocket means a large patch pocket in
a GoreTex jacket. I walk to work and back every day, whatever the
weather.
Even in summer I'm usually wearing a light jacket - usually of
the "pull-over" kind with a "bib pocket" at the front.
I'm not talking about a jean's pocket here...
I've explained how moving back and forth in the "text" might work
(rocker switch).
Really I posted here to see if anyone could give me advice about
what kind of hardware is available for this kind of product rather
than to discuss my clothing and whether other people could be
bothered to learn Morse. What I need is a low power CPU + memory,
clock, power which is easy to interface and easy to program. I was
wondering if people still needed to blow EPROMS etc or whether I can
buy a small kit that plugs into my PC's parallel port and downloads
code directly into some kind of battery-backed memory... (or
anthing along those lines - I haven't played with hardware for
ten years, things must have changed). Or should I buy a Psion or
similar and interface directly to that? (Means carrying the Psion
around too, though - and they are not cheap).
Cheers,
Mark Willey
: Really I posted here to see if anyone could give me advice about
: what kind of hardware is available for this kind of product rather
: than to discuss my clothing and whether other people could be
: bothered to learn Morse. What I need is a low power CPU + memory,
Sure, Andrew, but this is a USENET newsgroup, not a consulting service. If
you wanna talk wearables, this is the place. If you want someone who will
help you with your system design professionally, and not go off on
tangents, hire a private contractor.
Seriously,
Mark
R. Paul McCarty
>
> Hi,
>
> Forgive me if this sounds stupid or too old-fashioned.
>
> I spend ~100 minutes every day walking to and from work and would
> often like to be able to record some of the things I am thinking
> (like writing a letter to a friend - I can think what I will say,
> but then forget before I can write it down).
>
> I don't want to look unusual and I don't want to walk into lamposts
> or get hit by cars, so it seemed to me that rather than reading
> something I should listen to it. I'd like to be able to type on
> something in a coat pocket, so it would have to be small and one-
> handed. I've seen a microwriter (do they still exist?), but that's
> large and complicated.
>
> code would be sufficient. I have various ideas for the software (editing)
> and have built some hardware before (a long time ago - a Z80 based
> stepper motor driver). But I have no idea what is possible with current
> hardware (would I still need to blow my own EPROMS for example).
There are alot of embedded computers that could replace a Z80 based system out
there and have builtin interfaces to TTL/line level voltages (i.e. you could
control a motor, sense button presses, optical encoders, etc.) An example
would be the Motorolla HC6811(think that's the right number). Unfortunately
most
of these things are the size of a paperback book.. there might be smaller form
factor
stuff out there.
The other thing you might look at are Pic chips:
these could be programmed (from a pc via a serial/parallel cable) to sense
morse code, a keyboard, etc. but they have tiny amounts of memory (not sure
what the limit is, maybe 32K/64K?)
You also might want to consider a Palm Pilot; already have software to xfer
text, email, etc. via serial cable, can use graffiti to write text using a
stylus, etc. Pretty small form factor.
> Is
> there some low-power consumption chip that includes a CPU, memory, and
> some IO ports that can be programmed easily from a computer running
> Linux?
>
> Any comments welcome,
If you just want a quick list of hardware people are using for wearable
computers
take a peek at:
http://wearables.ml.org/hardwear.html
Cheers!
-Paul
and...@intertrader.com
Strangely enough I have had a heap of very useful replies. Thanks to
everyone who mentione PIC and PBASIC stuff and the like.