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UncontrolableUrge t1_iubyabl wrote

Reply to comment by SnakeBeardTheGreat in ELI5: Morse code is made up of dots and dashes. How did telegraph operators keep from losing track of where one letter ended and another began? by copperdomebodhi

Wartime intellegence included learning the "hand" of various operaters to trace movements, to distinguish false transmissions, and to try to fake transmissions.

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DirkBabypunch t1_iuc7f6b wrote

Former submarine sonar operator on youtube is always talking about when they were following a target around, they eventually learned the differences between the drivers and such on each watch just by the differences in sound they'd hear.

It's amazing the amount of information trained people can glean out of enough noise.

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thephantom1492 t1_iucabq6 wrote

Now, imagine what a computer can do. Provided that they have enough text, they can be pretty sure that you and that other person on another site is pretty much the same one, just by the style and typo you make.

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DirkBabypunch t1_iucbfeo wrote

Yeah, but can they see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

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foonathan t1_iucdhox wrote

There was a test website that authenticated you based on the way you type your username and password. It appears to be offline though.

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CWF182 t1_iucqndp wrote

It's called the "fist" not the hand. Source I still use Morse Code as a Ham Radio Operator.

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UncontrolableUrge t1_iud28ro wrote

Do mid 20th century British writers use the same word?

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CWF182 t1_iudf5sm wrote

I don't know. But I've been a Ham since I was a kid in 1982 and I know many hams that were licensed in the early 60's. I've always heard it was someone's "fist" that was unique. However most operators since the early 80's use what is known as a "keyer" and a set of paddles. One paddle make the dit (dot) and the other makes the Dah (dash). The keyer makes perfect spacing for each letter and therefore makes you sound less unique but better and easier to copy. Also using an electronic keyer allows you to send much faster (>60wpm in some cases) than a straight key like you see in old movies.

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