A Few weeks ago I was considering my dilemma of not taking the time to study Morse Code. I have been attempting to learn for much of the past 25 years. Several years ago I found this great code practice program called MorseMania (also available in the Apple App store) which I use, but I am terrible at taking the time to actually sit down and practice. Which is the same problem I have with music to no ones surprise. However, I needed some way to practice more on a day-to-day basis. I asked myself, what do I use more than anything, computers, phones and tablets of course. So I finally came up with the brilliant plan to find a Morse Code keyboard for the phone and tablets. Some people have found ways to actually connect physical Morse keys to their keyboards or use physical keys on physical keyboards to do this. I wanted something even more simple and portable even though i do have a physical keyboard when I leave home in case I need to take more extensive notes.
I eventually found this, buried in Google’s GBoard, the Morse Keyboard. People have considered this tool an accessibility device and I can totally see it. It can be set to pretty slow if you have trouble otherwise typing on a keyboard but you do not need to actually send Morse Code with realistic timing. The keyboard is like an iambic key in that way. Your dots and dashes are always perfect and as long as you set your character and word timing how you need it, timing really is not an issue.
I’m lucky enough to not have issues with my finger or hand mobility, other then the effects of decades of typing and some occasional hard labor so that is not why I use it. When I am using the keyboard, I don’t have to hold the phone right up to my face while I’m hunting around for keys. For basic notes and sending SMS it works rather well though. I can literally sit the phone on my leg, on a chair arm or table and just tap. As I get more and more used to the shape of the Morse Code letters, I get them more and more accurately transcribed to the phone.
If you look at the image you will also notice a strange circle with arrows inside of it. This is the magnifier control. If you tap it twice and then slide your finger around the screen, you can zoom in closer to see things. I use this a lot because it is faster for me than using VoiceOver, or Talkback on Android, but that’s a whole other article.
You may notice too that I have my phone in dark mode. I know that this irritates some people. Those of us who have some vision were trained on light, or sometimes glaring white, backgrounds. The dark backgrounds are so much better for most of us. However, I did find out that a friend of mine has a problem with reading light text on a background due to her vision quirks and that is why I added the light or dark mode switch to this website.
While GBoard’s Morse Keyboard is considered an accessibility device, and so is the magnifier, dark mode is not. This makes me think about all the perfectly sighted people who would use the talking function on the light rail ticket kiosk in Sacramento where I used to work.
Accessibility doesn’t have to be for only those who need it. Are we going to not allow people to use automatic doors just because they could open a door? There’s a ridiculous expense that no one needs. People often design things for “most” people not realizing, or caring, that the people they are not thinking about only require just a little bit extra that would not hurt any of the “normal” people and if you put it into the plan in the first place, it wouldn’t cost you any extra, and save you in the long run because you wouldn’t be forced to retrofit anything.
People with disabilities spend money and need services too, you know. We appreciate those who help us and we will keep asking for the things that we need to live better lives from those who don’t want to give it to us.
I’m going to close by relating a story from my childhood. My brother and I decided to spend a day acting like we had broke our dominant arm. It was a very informative exercise. About a year later, my brother crashed his bike while getting off the road for a motorist and broke his forearm. I am sure that he appreciated the practice.
Ask yourself, “What would I do if…” and don’t look at it like, “my life would be over!” No, as long as you’re alive you can adapt. Those of us with disabilities must adapt all the time and it’s about time that those of you who are more able start to learn to do the same.
