What Makes Codes Good?

It's been exactly two years since I last posted! That's a record! Bad, though. :( I just found out that it's exactly two years just before typing the first words of this blog post. Earlier today, though, as I was on a ride to some place, I took the time to think about this blog, what I should add, how often should I add to it, etc. It should be more often than once in two years, I know! :D

Good thing I had my pen with me and some index cards in my pocket so I got to jot down some ideas, actually. It used to be that I ALWAYS had a pen and paper... then I always had something to take note of. When oblivion sets in, whatever I think about while having no pen is just something that might just come back later.

While traveling, I was trying to develop some new codes. While thinking, my mind detoured to the idea of what actually makes a good code. This is my personal opinion. For me, what makes a good code is not being able to actually think that it IS ACTUALLY a code. So when a coded message on a piece of paper crosses from one eye to another, those unconcerned will never suspect that it is a coded message that they would even take interest to decipher.

Human beings have the natural tendency to find out more, especially when there is some mystery attached. If there is a coded message on a piece of paper lying down on the table, the onlooker will tend to look and even think further and deeper! If it doesn't look like a code, then it just lays there not getting any attention at all... unless the intended recipient gets hold of it.

Another aspect of what makes a good code is, according to my personal opinion, it should be decipherable without having to get a pen and paper. It should be pure mental wit and skill. That way, the person reading will just be seen as a person reading what is obvious.

The third aspect is, the writer must be able to write the code mentally too.

Maybe that's why it takes some time for me to develop new codes... I don't want to depend on memory as we know that as we grow older, the better we forget! :D As long as it's decipherable (using mere common sense and intelligence) then oblivion is not much of a problem.

In conclusion, what makes a code good (in my opinion)?
1. It must not look like a code.
2. It must be decipherable mentally.
3. It must be coded mentally.

Phone Number Code

I know it's been quite a long time since I last posted. It looks like this blog has been left on its own. I was actually checking what my blogs are so I paid a visit. Hmmm....now I thought I should update.

But I just could not update with nothing about ciphers, crypts or codes so I thought for a minute (literally) of a new set of coding system that may look difficult but quite decipherable. Again, the purpose of such is so that it would be difficult for those unaware to get the message when, for example, a piece of paper was passed from point A to point B and with those unaware in between A and B, yet easy for those concerned to read it with relative ease (with some practice, of course) without having to get a pencil.

Here's an example of a message:

844-7047
784-8303
279-8603
324-7437

Clue: It's just one sentence.

C5 Reveals The Secret To Deciphering The Dots, Dashes And Slashes

Yes, I finally decided to reveal how the Dots, Dashes and Slashes work.

Yes, there is a pattern. I almost always use a pattern when creating ciphers. The only time I don't like (or prefer not) to pattern is when I make crafts.

Since I don't have much of a strong memory, this hobby tells me I need to pattern.

It's actually VERY EASY. It might surprise you how easy it is.

Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid. Two of them. And an X. Two of them also.

In the first tic-tac-toe grid fill up the spaces from A-I like this:

A B C
D E F
G H I

Then on the 2nd grid, letters J-R:

J K L
M N O
P Q R

Then on the 2 Xs:

S
T U
V

and

W
X Y
Z


Now imagine the first grid. 'A' is in the left-facing right angle. Get the points and turn into dots.

'B' has 4 ends but turn it into 3 by making a vortex like a 'V' so you have 3 dots in the form of a 'V' actually.

'C' faces the right like an 'L' so you just get the points and make dots forming an 'L' (can you see where it's going?).

When you reach letter 'E' that is represented with one dot at the center.

Are you following?

When it comes to the second grid, change dots into dashes.

The Xs are a bit different.

S is like a double quote
T is slanted to the left
U is slanted to the right
V is like an equal sign

From W to Z, just insert a dot at the center like W would be like |·| :)

Clear?

Now you can amaze your offline friends....or enemies :D