Hi.
Helen says that every radio operator types in a slightly different rhythm (I guess she's talking about morse code) when broadcasting messages, and that she can tell them apart.
This sounds amazing. It's not relevant to the plot, but is there historical evidence that this was possible?
[deleted]
Not sure why you find it so amazing it happens all the time. Think of it as two pianists, a novice and a master, who in turn play the same piece of music. They play the same notes, they push the same keys and produce the same tune but to the trained ear the pace, timing and rhythm of the master will be clearly distinct from that of the novice. It's like I can tell exactly which member of my family is coming up the stairs just by the pace of their assent and the weight and frequency of their footfall.
Really not that amazing.
If you dip your foot into a pool of piranhas don't cry when you lose a toe!😞🐟
This is a phenomenon known for decades. Dating from back in the S.S. Titanic days. Like a person's writing habits (back when people still wrote in cursive); Some would slant their letters to the right, some to the left.
Even in modern day Amateur (Ham) Radio, when we work a station we have talked to before you can tell the operator's style with their Morse Code key. In slang, it's called their "fist", from how some people hold the key.
Another factor is, there are may types of Morse Code keys; a Straight Key" is usually what you'll see depicted in a movie. The classic, vertical motion, with the black plastic button on top... There are also types of "Speed Keys". Instead of one paddle that is moved up and down, there are two levels, mounted parallel that the operator basically squeezes. One side for "dit", the other side for "dah". These "Speed Keys" can be mechanical (one is called a "bug" because of the shape/look) or they can be electronic.
There's many examples of different keys and high speed Morse Code on YouTube, You could start with this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_icJLmsFNU
Edit --
Here's even a more interesting b/w Army training film showing how a person can gain their own "rhythm", if you're willing to invest in 12 minutes...
PRINCIPLES AND BASIC TECHNIQUE FOR GOOD, RHYTHMIC SENDING 0F MORSE CODE BY OPERATING THE HAND KEY. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQj74Y2H8xQ