When I first got into the world of memory techniques a few years ago, the standard 0 - 9 number shapes worked really well for me, but there was nothing else after the 0-9 shapes, so then I studied and practiced the Dominic and the Major systems for creating images from the numbers 00-99.
The process of recognition of the numbers and letters was not instant with me using the major or the dominic systems, but it was with the number shapes from 0-9. I tried to combine all systems into a single system so I can recognise faster and memorise faster, but I was struggling with that too.
While I was trying out these systems, I somehow started seeing the shapes of the numbers and the letters as everyday objects, animals and people. I started practising a few different ways to come up with new shapes as from 10 - 99.
Double numbers such 33 was very hard initially, it was like 3 = Seagull + Seagull which didnāt make any sense.
So I turned the first digit - 3 - horizontally and got a new shape which looked like a Butterfly for 33. {313 is also good}
For example, 44 was very hard, initially I used number 4 as a Chair,
now with my new system I use 4 as Horse Nose, but 44 was just not right with 2 horse noses.
So I stuck 4 and 4 together upside down - on top of each other and that produced the letter H which looks like 2 chairs are stuck on top of each other. Then I immediately seen that H could be a Step Ladder which represented 44!
So, while I was practicing I was also discovering images for the Letter Shapes as well as Number Shapes!
So Iāve coined this system as āThe Shaper Systemā which converts all the numbers and letters into an instant image from 0-9 | 00- 99 for numbers which is a total of 110 images, and A- Z with the letter shapes which are 26 images. And with my palace system, I also need another 10 images, so a total of 146 images.
However, even though I have most of the shapes established as very strong and instantly recognisable images, I still have quite a few that are very weak, or not strong enough. So Iām 3/4 way there.
This system had to make sense - My goal is to memorise faster than I can now for speed memory.
Because now I can recognise numbers as images far faster then before, I am also far faster during the memorising process. I may not become a memory champion at my age 48 yrs, but Iām hoping that the shaper system will help make champions,or at least help in some ways or another who take interest in memory sports. Once Iām done with every single image Iāll then release the whole spreadsheet and other details.
Is anyone else using the shaper system, or something similar?
What are some of the number shapes do you guys use?
[Edited from my initial post.]
Update: 21 Feb 2018
Numbers Shapes 0-9
0 - Egg
1 - Lighter
2 - Duck
3 - Lips Kissing
4 - Knife
5 - Teacup | Measuring Jug (tilt the number to the right)
6 - Whistle
7 - Axe
8 - Woman Dress | Catsuit [Not sure about this one]
9 - Boxerās Glove > Punching | Hook Punch
Numbers Shapes 00-09
00 = Binoculars
01 = Shield & Spear
02 = Hoover
03 = Rabbit
04 = Chopping board & Knife
05 = Lantern Torch With a Handle
06 = Golf Ball & Golf Club
07 = Megaphone
08 = Pool Ball - Black Ball with 8 on it.
09 = Tennis Ball & Racket
Numbers Shapes 10-19
10 = Fat Man | Drum on belly | Fingers | Toes
11 = Drum Sticks
12 = Needle & Thread | Playground Slides
13 = Pregnant woman
14 = A guy sitting | Heart - Valentineās Day | Red Rose | Necklace
15 = Man pushing a Disabled Chair | or just a Disabled Chair
16 = Man smoking Pipe | Man pulling a trolley
17 = Harp | Woodpecker
18 = Broom & Snowman
19 = Elephant
Iāll be updating the other number shapes as I go along, I keep changing some of them and finding new and better shapes.
Iām stuck on 50 - 59
I do have some shapes but just doesnāt seem right, so Iāll keep working on it.
What are your shapes?
Update: 23 Oct 2018
Here are all the number shapes from 0-9 And 00-99
Numbers Shapes 0-9
0 - Egg
1 - Lighter
2 - Coat Hanger | Duck | Pigeon
3 - Lips
4 - Knife
5 - Teacup | Measuring Jug (tilt the number to the right)
6 - Whistle
7 - Axe
8 - Woman Dress | Catsuit
9 - Boxerās Glove > Punching | Hook Punch
Numbers Shapes 00-09
00 = Binoculars | Bongo drums | headphones | speakers
01 = Shield & Spear
02 = Hoover
03 = Rabbit
04 = Chopping board & Knife
05 = Lantern Torch With a Handle
06 = Golf Ball & Golf Club
07 = Megaphone | Grenade
08 = Pool Ball - Black Ball with 8 on it.
09 = Tennis Ball & Racket
Numbers Shapes 10-19
10 = Fat Man | Drum on the belly
11 = Drum Sticks
12 = Needle & Thread | Playground Slides
13 = Pregnant woman
14 = A guy sitting | ( Associated > Heart - Valentineās Day | Red Rose | Necklace )
15 = Man pushing a Disabled Chair | or just a Disabled Chair
16 = Man smoking Pipe | Man pulling a trolley
17 = Harp | Woodpecker
18 = Broom & Snowman
19 = Elephant
Numbers Shapes 20-29
20 = Snail
21 = Dollar sign
22 = Pair of High Heels Shoes
23 = Swan - Neck-body-tail
24 = Alarm Clock (Associated)
25 = Santaās sleigh | (Associated > Santa - Xmas Day - Present | )
26 = Watering can
27 = Trowel
28 = Crocodile
29 = Gondola and man
Numbers Shapes 30-39
30 = Jelly Fish
31 = Lips smoking cigarette | Bow & Arrow
32 = Teeth | Shark | ( Associated)
33 = Seagull
34 = Goat with Horns
35 = Crane Hook
36 = Lips smoking pipe
37 = Rocket
38 = Beetle Car
39 = Lips & Party Whistle
Numbers Shapes 40-49
40 = Concrete Mixer Truck
41 = Man Jet Skiing
42 = Horse Head and Neck curve
43 = Fish
44 = Umbrella ( the second 4 flipped horizontally)
45 = Kite & string
46 = SeaHorse
47 = Chihuahua
48 = Pick up Van (8 tilted down as the wheels)
49 = Mice - Eating a block of cheese
Numbers Shapes 50-59
50 = Tractor
51 = Pipe Wrench
52 = Cards - Dealing playing cards (Associated)
53 = Bra
54 = Snake and his head
55 = Wheelbarrow | 2 Hands High Five (Associated)
56 = Forklift
57 = Blacksmith Anvil
58 = Scooter (8 tilted down as wheels)
59 = Bull fight - Bull headbutting
Numbers Shapes 60-69
60 = Monkeys Tail and Monkey Body - Monkey eating a Banana
61 = Fishing Tackle
62 = Cat
63 = Bee
64 = Laptop 64 bit - (Associated)
65 = Muscle Arm & Bicep
66 = Two Cherries with a leaf
67 = Punch Machine
68 = Pram
69 = Yin Yang
Numbers Shapes 70-79
70 = Straw in a cocktail glass
71 = Fire Extinguisher
72 = Water pump
73 = Camel
74 = Semi Automatic Handgun
75 = Exercise Bike
76 = Saxophone
77 = Two man Rowing - Rowing a boat | two bend legs
78 = Shopping cart (8 tilted down as wheels)
79 = Axe and Farmer
Numbers Shapes 80-89
80 = Baby Dummy
81 = Violin and bow | Guitar - Playing Violin | Guitar
82 = Woman swinging her hair. - Swinging Hair.
83 = Mermaid - Slapping her tail.
84 = Bride and Groom (arm) - Bride holding arm with the broom and walking.
85 = Girl on a Unicycle
86 = Girl blowing a Whistle
87 = Frog Eyes & Mouth
88 = Weights
89 = Snorkel
Numbers Shapes 90-99
90 = Ninja Turtle
91 = Space suit
92 = Lion
93 = Butterfly
94 = Chef & Knife
95 = Squirrel
96 = Key & Padlock
97 = Old Man & his walking stick
98 = Biker with helmet
99 = Scissors | Mushrooms | Balloons
Iāve used association with some of the shapes because I couldnāt find the shape for it, so I associated them with what made sense to me. All marked on the list.
Some of these images may not make sense to you, this is simply because you just see it as numbers and texts, and trying to imagine the image of it. I do also have a full list of these shapes as graphic images, all saved on my pc. So if you need help on any of the images here, I can help show you how I got or made the shape to create the image.
Iāve already taken notes of some of the board members with their contribution to this and changed a few of my shapes. Thank you all.
So there you have it! All 110 number shapes from 0-9 and 00-99.
Itāll be interesting to see what else you can come up with your own number shapes.
Update 26 Oct 2018
Here are my Letter Shapes from A - Z .
A = Peg
B = Sunglasses
C = Banana
D = Tongue out
E = Comb
F = Toothbrush
G = Ear
H = Step Ladder
I = Needle
J = Umbrella
K - Table [tilted]
L - A Gun with a silencer
M - Spider
N - Compass [North]
O - Bracelet | Tyre
P - Flag on a pole | Sword [tilted]
Q - Magnifier | Tiara [birds eye view] | Balloon | Ring
R - Ribbon Badge
S - Snake
T - Cross | Hammer | T-Ruler
U - Cup | Horse Shoe
V - Necklace | Ice-Cream Cone
W - Vampire Teeth
X - Plasters
Y - Slingshot | Funnel | Wine Glass
Z - Escalator
Itāll be interesting to see what else you can come up with your own letter shapes.
What are your letter shapes?