And finally this week, texting addicts will soon have a new plaything, but will need to learn C-W to use it. This, as Toshiba teams up with microprocessor manufacturer Intel to produce Clique. This is described as a handheld, thumb-operated communications device that uses only three keys produce Morse code for sending text messages.

A Toshiba spokesperson says that Morse was chosen as the communications medium because it is an easily learned and is ideally suited to the single-digit platform. She explained that the Morse code has been in use for more than 160 years which longer than any other electronic encoding system.

Earlier attempts to create a Morse-based texting device were stymied by the variable length of the Morse characters which made it hard to adapt to automated text conversion circuits. Toshiba’s solution is the three keys. One is used for dots, another for dashes and the third that acts as a space-bar between letters. One tap separates letters while two taps go between words.

First released in Japan at the 2008 Microprocessor Forum, the Clique is the size and shape of a lollipop with the handle acting as a miniature joystick. Its reception in Japan has been described as fast and furious as early adopters added ‘Clique’ to their armory of hand-held communications
devices.

The Clique is not yet available in the United States but more about it is on-line at http://mhpbooks.com/mobylives/?p=6535