How One Button Can Save Your Life*

Juxtaposed against time, a signal emerges into the ether — the language of the wire — born from the simplest of actions: the press of a single button.

Long before computers processed the ones and zeros that define our modern world, we decoded information in much the same way. Morse code and the telegraph became a new medium of communication. Simple, fast, and far-reaching, they allowed people to exchange information across great distances in near real time — something that continues to shape our world today.

Become part of that history and take a moment to learn this terse signal: three dots, three dashes, three dots. A dot is short. A dash is longer. Press the button or use the space bar to try it yourself.

Known as the international distress signal (aka, SOS), this message can be transmitted through almost any medium — sound, light, or even touch. This app models the telegraph: a single button and a 675 Hz audible tone. Learn this code and you will always have a universal way to ask for help. One button (*and your own wits) can save your life.