Nokia develops camera phone that can transmit, read Morse code

I've been extremely busy this week preparing for the CTIA's Wireless 2005 conference in New Orleans next week, so I haven't been posting for a few days.  I'm going to be conducting a three-hour camera phone tutorial for my Wireless Data University on Sunday, moderating a 90-minute CTIA panel on camera phones on Monday and conducting two panels for Future Image's great day-long  Mobile Imaging Perspectives conference on Tuesday.

If you're at Wireless 2005 drop by and say hello.

Plus, in addition to my wireless data consulting I'm developing a wireless newsletter and weblog for a well known organization and another wireless newsletter and possibly a weblog for another company.  More details soon about those publications.

There have been lots of interesting camera phone developments and I hope to comment on at least a few over the next couple of days.  I found one camera phone tidbit at optics.org that reports Nokia has filed a patent for handsets that can generate symbols and Morse Code and decypher the information.

Patent information

The article says, ""Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is attempting to patent an optical messaging system by equipping handsets with a large light emitting matrix.

"The backlit display, which can be color or monochrome, generates scrolling or blinking symbols that can be recognised at a distance of up to 4 metres.

"Alternatively, the phone is equipped with a single high-power LED that can be modulated manually or automatically, for example using Morse code, and deciphered remotely with a camera-phone."

"According to the firm, the device provides a new communication channel that does not pollute the RF band."

Comments

[Tychocat]

A communications channel that does not pollute the RF bands?! Thank god! I was getting so tired of seeing all the RF pollution clogging our rivers. The smell of AM radio talkshows was getting particularly bad.

[Radioman]

wow! is it April Fools Day already?