Morse Buddy

Safety

Last updated August 31, 2026

Photosensitive epilepsy warning

Morse Buddy can produce rapidly flashing light. Flashing in roughly the 3 to 30 Hz range can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy, with the peak risk around 15 to 20 Hz. Some people who are susceptible have never had a seizure and do not know they are at risk.

The risk applies to anyone who can see the light — bystanders and the person holding the phone, not only whoever it is aimed at.

Stop immediately and seek medical advice if you or anyone nearby experiences dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitching, disorientation, involuntary movement, or loss of awareness.

Using the strobe responsibly

  • Warn people present before you start. Everyone who can see it is exposed.
  • Do not use it around anyone with epilepsy, or anyone who has not consented.
  • Never aim it at a driver, a cyclist, a pilot, or anyone operating machinery.
  • Do not use it in a crowd, where a startled reaction can cause a crush or a fall.
  • Do not shine it into anyone's eyes at close range.
  • Do not use it as a prank. It is an emergency and signalling feature.

What the strobe is not

A phone torch is not a tactical light and this is not a self-defence weapon. In daylight it does essentially nothing. In darkness it is genuinely disorienting, but it will not incapacitate anyone, and relying on it to do so in a dangerous situation would be a serious mistake. Treat it as a way to be seen, not as a way to stop someone.

Battery and heat

Running the torch at full power heats the phone and drains the battery quickly. An emergency tool that flattens the battery you need for a 911 call has failed at its job. The strobe therefore stops automatically after a set duration and must be deliberately re-armed. Some warmth during use is normal. If the phone becomes uncomfortably hot, stop and let it cool.

Hearing

The silent mode transmits at 18.5 kHz — above most adults' hearing, but not above everyone's. Children, teenagers and many younger adults hear it clearly, and it can be genuinely unpleasant to them. Dogs and cats hear it easily and may be distressed by it. Do not hold either phone close to anyone's ear in Tone or Silent mode, and keep the volume moderate.

This is not an emergency service

Morse Buddy is a signalling tool, not a substitute for calling for help. It has no connection to emergency services, no network capability, and no ability to summon anyone. It only works if there is another person, with another iPhone running the app, within line of sight or earshot, who is actively looking or listening.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number first. Use this app to be found, to signal across a distance where shouting will not carry, or where a phone network is unavailable — as a supplement, never as the plan.

Range and conditions

Optical signalling needs line of sight and works better in darkness. Silent audio carries roughly five metres. Neither mode passes through walls. Plan on the assumption that the app will do less than you hope, not more.

Reporting a safety concern

If you encounter a safety problem with the app, tell us and we will treat it as a priority over everything else in the backlog.

support [at] sparky1.live
(509) 800-7631

Sparky1 LLC, Maple Valley, WA, United States