Kittanning man takes part in experiment using his knowledge of Morse code
By Tom Mitchell
From Kittanning LEADER TIMES
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
KITTANNING -- It's a language that's understood in virtually every country in the world, yet few are conversant in it. It's strange language consisting of only two monotone sounds, a long and a short beep. The language is the International Morse code and a borough man, John Shannon, is among the nation's foremost experts on this unique form of communication practiced today only by some amateur radio operators.
On June 18, Shannon, whose amateur radio call is K3WWP, was invited to the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh to take part in a short-term memory study involving Morse code users.
Julie Fiez, a psychology professor with the university said she got the idea of using Morse code users in her studies from a family member who is a licensed amateur radio operator and proficient with "CW," the radio term for Morse code which means "continuous wave."
Fiez said she was drawn to the idea of using CW in experiments to see how people process verbal and audio tones.
"Our interest is in verbal working memory," she said, "which is the ability to keep 'on-line' for short time, information you can access later.
As an example of short-term memory retention, Fiez said when people look up a number in a phone book, then close the book and a minute later dial the number, they are using short-term memory to remember a number they've seen in the book. "We use neuro-imaging and behavorial studies to try to understand what brain areas contribute to a person's ability to perform a task," she said. Test subjects view lists of random letters that appear on a computer monitor. After each list, they are asked to write the letters on a note pad. Next, they hear a series of random letters through ear phones and again, note each group. The final groups of letters are sent in Morse code. Subjects also copy Morse code sentences sent at 16, 19 and 24 words per minute. It was in this latter test that Shannon excelled.
Licensed as a radio operator since 1963, Shannon obtained an extra class license, the highest class available, in 1968. Although his license gives him full privileges on all amateur radio frequencies, Shannon prefers to use Morse code exclusively." Anyone can talk into a microphone," he said, "but using CW is a skill that few bother to maintain." Shannon said he laments the fact that code proficiency is no longer a requirement in obtaining a radio amateur license. Since 1994 Shannon has made a minimum of one QSO (amateur radio contact) a day using Morse code. That translates to more than 4,700 consecutive days of radio contacts.
Shannon said he has confirmed Morse code contacts with radio amateurs in more than 200 foreign countries as well as having worked all states and Canadian provinces.
"There are some places that constitute a 'country' for radio purposes that are not actually countries or sovereign nations," Shannon said. "For example, if you work a scientific research station in the Antarctic, that counts as a country. St. Peter and Paul Islands, northeast of Brazil, or Kergulen Island, a French possession in the Indian Ocean, also count as countries."
However, Shannon's contacts are done the "hard way,' by using low-power, 5 watts or less, and simple wire antennas. "It's called QRP, meaning low power, operation," he said. "This shows the ability of even low powered CW signals to 'get through' while other modes may not for various reasons." Shannon said that while he never considered short-term memory ability in relation to amateur radio, a study of the idea has merit. While most CW operators can copy 20 words per minute, and some up to 35, Shannon is certified as having copied a sizzling 55 words per minute. He said that there may be only a few dozen or so radio operators in the nation who can copy CW at that speed. "You don't hear letters," he said, "you hear words or sometimes short sentences. You have to use a key board to copy because no one can write that fast and you always copy 'behind,' meaning that you are typing in what was sent several seconds earlier, so you're definitely using short term memory."
To date Fiez and two assistants, Maryam Khatami and Sara Guediche, have tested nine radio amateur volunteers. Shannon is the only subject from Kittanning.
"We're still looking for volunteers who are proficient in Morse," Fiez said. "The studies will continue through the summer at least."
She said she expects to find differences between individuals on the basis of how skilled they are with Morse and in the terms of how they used the code in their radio experience. Fiez said she hope to use the information gathered to better understand short-term memory.
Shannon said he will detail his part in the experiment in an upcoming issue of World Radio Magazine.
"Pete Smith's short film" Radio Hams centers on a family called to dinner. All but the teenage son respond. When family members go looking for him, one by one they are snared into a world of ham radio high adventure. One that includes a rescue in Alaska and a tragic search for a downed aircraft at sea. Unlike most films promoting ham radio, this one is not a documentary. It's a fully scripted 10 minute dramatic presentation featuring a cast of professional actors well directed by Felix Fiest. E. Mauriece Adler is credited with writing the screen play. "Radio Hams" is really a nostalgic look back at ham radio the way it never was.
