A smoke signal is a form of visual communication used over a long distance, developed both in the Americas and in China. By covering an open fire with a blanket and quickly removing it, a puff of smoke can be generated. With some training, the sizes, shapes, and timing of these puffs can be controlled. Puffs may be observed from long distance, apparent to anyone within its visual range. With this in mind, signalling stations were often created to maximise the viewable distance. Stone bowls used by Native Americans and the towers of the Great Wall of China are examples of signalling stations.

There is no standardized code for smoke signals; the signals are often of a predetermined pattern discerned by sender and receiver. Because of this, smoke signals tend to only convey simple messages, and are a limited form of communication.

External links

---

• The Inquiry Net's page on smoke signals - Boy Scout information on smoke signals

More on [ Smoke signal ]

Smoke Signals - Twitter Search

Some food is in store. Gotta feed the fire that makes the Indian smoke signals that fall up from my mouth
longerhair (jim h) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:38:12 -0000
Some food is in store. Gotta feed the fire that makes the Indian smoke signals that fall up from my mouth
I'm native american. -Me Have you seen the movie Smoke Signals then? -@Katiemrandall
bethanyhamm (Bethany Hamm) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:30:27 -0000
I'm native american. -Me Have you seen the movie Smoke Signals then? -@Katiemrandall
Signing off, davids taking both the phones to the sprint store. I do read smoke signals.....
punkyonz (linda onzahwah) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:18:41 -0000
Signing off, davids taking both the phones to the sprint store. I do read smoke signals.....
megan just brought up the fact that we are NOT using smoke signals. I'm gonna light mine up... look out
Dthing6386 (Danielle Thing) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:09:24 -0000
megan just brought up the fact that we are NOT using smoke signals. I'm gonna light mine up... look out
@ashpegram The least offensive comment about The Attic ever! Shame they won't read it for 10 years - they're still perfecting smoke signals
turnbullm (Matthew Turnbull) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:57:27 -0000
@ashpegram The least offensive comment about The Attic ever! Shame they won't read it for 10 years - they're still perfecting smoke signals
RT @JKODAK7: THEY SAY I GOT THE MOST BARS LIKE AT&T/ PLUS IM BLOWIN SMOKE SIGNALS LIKE AN INDIAN CHIEF -KODAK
STPDFRSHLEETHER (TANK LEETHER) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:44:32 -0000
RT @JKODAK7: THEY SAY I GOT THE MOST BARS LIKE AT&T/ PLUS IM BLOWIN SMOKE SIGNALS LIKE AN INDIAN CHIEF -KODAK

Subscribe to Smoke_Signals RSS feed