A idea and suggestions for a program that uses German psychologist Ludwig Koch's method to learn you how to receive and send morse code, for Morserino 32 .
Platform Compatibility: Linux Ubuntu and variants,Windows and Mac OS.
Inputs: iambic,paddles, straight key. Standard inputs like a keyboard and mouse if a Morserino 32 is not available.
Some basic information for those unfamiliar with morse keys: Example of a straight key: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:J38TelegraphKey.jpg
A straight key is the common telegraph key as seen in various movies. It is a simple bar with a knob on top and a contact underneath. When the bar is depressed against spring tension, it forms a circuit and allows electricity to flow.
Keys having two separate levers, one for dits and the other for dahs are called dual or dual-lever paddles. With a dual paddle both contacts may be closed simultaneously, enabling the "iambic" functions of an electronic keyer that is designed to support them. The operator can create a series of alternating dits and dahs . A single-paddle also utilizes separate contacts for dits and dahs. A example of a dual lever paddle: http://www.morsex.com/bencher/by1.jpg
More on morse keys: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_key
How the wpm or morse code speed are calculated: The basic element of Morse code is the dot and all elements can be defined in terms of multiples of the dot length. The word PARIS is used because this is the length of a typical word in English plain text, it has a total length of 50 dot lengths. If the word PARIS can be sent ten times in a minute using normal Morse code timing then the code speed is 10 WPM. The character speed is related to dot length in seconds by the following formula: Speed (WPM) = 2.4 * (Dots per second)
Here are the ratios for the other code elements: Dash length=Dot length x 3 Pause between elements=Dot length Pause between characters=Dot length x 3 Pause between words=Dot length x 7
The Koch method: What is the koch method? The Koch method, named after German psychologist Ludwig Koch, which uses the full target speed from the outset but begins with just two characters. Once strings containing those two characters can be copied with 90% accuracy, an additional character is added, and so on until the full character set is mastered. It's based on learned reflexes, and is arguably the best and fastest method available!
Learning at speeds below 15 WPM is strongly discouraged because building reflexes does not work at slow speeds. More info about Koch's method here: https://www.qsl.net/n1irz/finley.morse.html
How morse code sounds at 15 wpm: https://youtu.be/EewFLTsHlFg https://youtu.be/JskAldoROMM
A graphical representation of what is possible at different speeds. These speed "limits" are approximated, it's easy for someone who handles 30 wpm to go slower. https://github.com/Supermagnum/SuperKoch/blob/master/Screenshot_20210102-035710__01__01__01__01__01.jpg Something interesting happens when one can handle speeds above 30 wpm, you will start to hear the complete word!
But, there is a thing..
NO ONE HAS USED THIS METHOD TO TRAIN A PERSON HOW TO RECEIVE AND SEND!
It should work for both as it will teach muscle memory.
There are NO software that can teach both, only receive!
Koch himself, with hand-picked students, got a group to master receiving 12 wpm code in a mere 13.5 hours!
That's much faster than any other method in the psychological literature.
How the software should work,and it's modes:
Automatic progression mode: First the program sends a series of K's in CW for 30 seconds while the character K is displayed. Then it repeats the procedure with the character M.
When that is complete it sends a four characters group using K and M in random places without displaying the signs.
It then waits for a four characters input using the keyboard or the morse device, shows the characters you have gotten correct in green, the wrong ones in red.
That continues until the user has gotten 90 % correct of a number of groups, then a new letter is introduced ( for example X ), it is sent for 30 seconds while the character is displayed.
Then the lesson continues using the new character until 90% of groups is correct, a new character or prosign is introduced and the lessons continues until all characters are learned.
It may also be possible to display the character K and send the character in morse 5 times and wait for 4~10 around seconds for the answer using the morse key or keyboard.
Options and statistics: It could also display statistics of a users progress and time used. The slowest permitted speed should be 15 WPM. Any speed below this is wasted time. Some of it may be posted to https://lcwo.net/ if an API is available.
Multiple users in the program, but only one at a time.
It should also be possible to adjust the mininum and maximum number of characters in the groups and if they are of random size.
It should support Farnsworth timing, characters are sent at the same speed as at higher speeds, while extra spacing is inserted between characters and words to "slow" the transmission down.
The advantage of this is that you get used to recognising characters at a higher speed,the characters does not "blend together" as easily and thus it will be easier to increase the speed later on.
Morse alphabets that should be used : Primarly International, but the possibility to add regional extras like the Norwegian Æ Ø and Å. Those extras should be possible to add to the characters learned with a option in settings.
The international Morse code table: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:International_Morse_Code.svg There are codes for Letters, numbers, punctuation, prosigns for Morse code and non-English variants, those can be found here under "Letters, numbers, punctuation, prosigns for Morse code and non-Latin variants": https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Possible future options: Chat mode: Compatibility with a Murmur client that can connect to a murmur server, that enables chatting in morse code with other users. That makes it necessary to be able to adjust the pitch of the sent CW tone. The client is available at: https://www.mumble.info/ Similar low latency open source free software solutions could also be used. Suggestion for a plugin for mumble: QRN and signal fading. What QRN is : https://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/qrn/
A existing murmur server already exists: http://internetcw.weebly.com/
Compatible with Hamsphere: http://hamsphere.com/ There is a API, but the developers of hamsphere may have to be contacted.
Documentation for Morserino 32 can be found here: https://github.com//oe1wkl/Morserino-32