Now that cubicles have gone the way of the dodo and the private office, and we are left with acres of open office space, we need ways of communicating across the paperless prairie. We could simply shout, but that is frowned upon in modern office etiquette. We could telephone, but if neither party is standing by their desk, that requires remembering people's cell phone numbers. We could the interoffice mail system, but that only picks up at ten and three.

So let's reinstate semaphore. Things have changed a bit since our boy scouting days, so we obviously need to update the messages - "Make that a grande double Mocchachino with whipped cream and sugar on the side", for example, "The photocopier is out of paper again", and, of course, the old staple "Who's got the key to the men's room?"
-- DrCurry, Aug 15 2002

Thusly http://www.moniplex.com/semaphore
[DrCurry, Aug 15 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Singnal Halyards http://www.halfbake...20signal_20halyards
Could be adapted for indoor use [8th of 7, Aug 16 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

If I worked in an office, I'd be flying a skull and crossbones at this point.
-- madradish, Aug 16 2002


Or you could just have a giant LED sign on everybody's desk.

OR, we could re-instate smoke signals, using the steam from hot cups of coffee.

OR, offices could instate instant messaging or use an office BBS.

OR, your office *cough* deliberately forbids communication in order to force you to work harder.
-- polartomato, Aug 16 2002


Now you just have to get a flag system for the bathroom:
Green flag: All clear
Yellow flag: Test atmosphere before entry
Red flag: Paint is peeling, beware...
-- Mr Burns, Aug 16 2002


I would like an Aldis lamp .....

People would need regular exams to check their speed and proficency in semaphore, flag signals, light signals etc. - someone would need to go round and enforce standards and discipline - Inspector Morse, perhaps ?
-- 8th of 7, Aug 16 2002


<Obligatory post by direct descendant of Samuel Morse>
-.-. .-. --- .. ... ... .- -. -
</Obligatory post by direct descendant of Samuel Morse>
-- thumbwax, Aug 16 2002


croissant .-.-.- .-- .... -.-- .-.-.- - .... .- -. -.- -.-- --- ..- .. .. ..
-- Damn, Dec 13 2002


All the way with CW!(morse code) Everybody in the office should get their Ham license and be equiped with a transceiver.

-.- -.-. ..... --.. .-- --
-- theflyingdutchman, Dec 17 2003



random, halfbakery