TIM SYSTEM: development and training journal

[TheHumanTim]

Still working on isolating values to a single sound. It has only been a couple days working on this new system and there is already progress in this regard. Most of my mistakes when practicing recognition are due to misreading value options as their traditional multiple-option phonetics. I had a wide range of words over the last 3 large system lists that I trained that all made use of those variable sounds, so now I need to shut down some of those that keep wanting to come out when I"m reading pairs.

Here’s how its been going for each value sound:

10 as S is no problem, this has always been mapped to this sound, so no mental adjustments needed!

9’s to just the P sound has been challenging since I had probably an even split of words where 9’s were also B’s in previous systems.

8’s as just F isn’t too bad.

7 as just K is no problem at all.

6 is unchanged.

5, 4, 3, 2 are all single option sounds by default so no adjustments needed for them.

Ace as only T is occasionally tricky due to my new england accent’s tendency to turn T sounds into D sounds, so a little more effort will be needed to learn some of these new ones.

Jacks as D is a bit challenging, like the Aces, for the same reason. I did split the Jacks and Aces off into these sounds in my last system, but only for the first sound of the word. This was no problem. The “new englandizing” of the T/D sound only happens on the middle and end sounds. So like I’d never pronounce TiCK as DiCK or vice versa, but I might pronounce DoTTeD like DoDDeD. Or PoTaTo as PoTaDo. I also every so often pronounce the Jacks as F, which is a habit from previous systems. This is getting less and less frequent and soon the Jacks will be fully associated with just D.

Queen as B is slowly getting there. In all my previous big systems, these have been associated with the R sound, so its taking some work to recognize them as B’s. I’m clueing it visually by looking at the shape of the Q as it appears on the card index and seeing a “B” in that shape…

King as V has actually been a really easy one to adjust to. Previously Kings have been H for me in every 2-card system, so I wasn’t sure how tough it would be to switch them, but I noticed that the V shape is present right in the index so it has been easy to focus my vision on that small piece:

This is similar to how I started seeing the L shape in 5’s:

One piece of the value is enough to see the letter.

[CakeForBreakfast]

Can I ask what the interface is that you’re using here, to time yourself?

[TheHumanTim]

Its an android app, “memory ladder”

[CakeForBreakfast]

Thanks - but also, darn!

[TheHumanTim]

Aw man. If only memory league was available in app form!

[TheHumanTim]

added the next set of suit combos today:
(S)
(R)
(T)
(D)

The words seemed to stick MUCH easier than the first set. At this point I’ve seen half of the card pairs in this system. There are about 650 brand new words to learn to associate with the phonetics and new starting sounds for the red-first suit pairs, but so far so good. I’ll spend the rest of this week working on reps for these sets, along with review of the previous four.

I’ve also done at least one full 52 card deck memorization attempt each day with the physical cards in the sets that I’ve seen so far. That has gone really well even with the understandably slower recognition time for the new ones. I absolutely love having 13 loci with 2 elements per loci. Never going back to the 2-block setup, haha!

[TheHumanTim]

Quick observation as I’m trying to relearn associations with new words and the reason behind many of the struggles to recall them when trying to sound them out…

I initially used “PuKe Bag” as the word/image for [7 ][Q ]. But after dozens of review attempts, I still don’t instinctively read the first two sounds as “PuKe.” I always want to say “PaCK”, or “PoKe.”

I wonder if this is because I pronounce “PuKe” is almost a double syllable blend like “Pee-Yook”, whereas “PaCK” or “PoKe” are both true single syllable sounds for me.

I’ve noticed this in a few instances with other pairs that have that 'ee-yoo" U sound in there.

I changed my association to “PaCK Beast” (picturing a Bantha from Star Wars) and have run into almost no trouble getting to that word/image on the first or second try since.

I’ve also observed having some challenges when the association is a phrase and the first consonant sound is used to represent a full word while the 2nd + 3rd contain the second. I want to read the first TWO sounds as the first word and have to actively remember that certain exceptions read the other way…

For example:
[K ][2 ] is pronounced “P-V-N”
I’ve chosen “Pea VaN” as my word/phrase/image (a fictional cartoonish automobile from a grocery that is shaped like a pea.)

I love the image, but I keep wanting to pronounce the P-V as something like “Peavy” or “Pave”, a single word made up of P-V. All the rest of the entries in the [K ][X ] set are like that:

PeaVyS (wall of guitar amps)
PaVe Tape (caution tape at construction site)
Pea VaN
PaVe Man (construction worker)
PaVeR (walkway stones)
PaVLov (hand bell)
PoViCH (talk show host maury)
PoV Cam (helmet go-pro)
PaVe Flagger (worker waving you through)
PaVe Pounder (jack hammer-like tool)
PaVeD (fresh asphalt road)
PeaVy Bass (rock bass guitar)
PeeV (a friend who is always annoyed)

So this ONE entry stands out as an exception to the phrasing structure. The phonetics are all correct, but 12 out 13 of the [K ][X ] set use the P+V - X phrasing but Pea VaN uses P - V+X.

I’m getting around this by forcing myself to prounounce “Pea Van” as “PEEV-'ann” but there are times where I would prefer to find something that fits the phrasing better.

So, in terms of further refining systems as you work with them… Yes its great to pre-fill your system grid with words or phrases that “fit,” but there are going to be times when, under pressure, your brain will latch onto a specific phrasing or a completely different sound pattern and it may work best to just try to go with it. These might be some of the reasons why.

[TheHumanTim]

Thought about how I was practicing these new structures and sounds and worked out a way to boost the effectiveness of my practice sessions.

I’m still in the early days of learning this system and I need to get more familiar with the new suit combo sounds, specifically the red-first sets. These all have new or split/specific sounds from their old black-first counterparts from my previous systems.

I also need to drill the new singular assignments for the values that I’ve split off so that I only sound them as their one assigned sound: Ace (T) and Jack (D)… 8 (F) / King (V)… and 9 (P) / Queen (B).

So I went through and found the bare minimum number of pairs that would allow me to practice these new associations.

What I landed on was a set of just 60 pairs that will allow me to read each of these phonetics.

I need to get fluent with these so that there is no hesitation or swapping when memorizing quickly.

So, I built a practice deck that would only include new sounds, in an efficient form. I tagged them with a “coresounds” tag in anki so that I can filter them and run through them a few times at the start of the session (and throughout the day) to start building recognition association with the new sounds for them.

I added tags to all of the pairs from the split suit combos.
(T)
(D)
(R)
(F)
(W)
(P)
(B)
(vowel)
(first-person action)
(H)
that have the A, J, 8, K, 9, and Q values as the first card and a King as the second. (Kings in second position are silent in this system, so these pairs result in a very simple two-sound word. First sound for the suit combo, second for the first card value.) This gives me a 60 card set where each new sound assignment is seen 10 times. It only takes a couple minutes to go through them and ensures that every day, I’m reinforcing the new specific phonetics for this system.

By starting with this, I think it will make it easier as I learn the 1500+ brand new words needed for this system.

[2704]

@TheHumanTim

setting the last image on fire if it was a

I do not know. Could you set the room on fire instead, or even the next empty loci. Is this even a thought. Would it be easier to make adjust to 100 unique loci rather than 1000+ mnemonic images.
This thought process evolved when I read that when creating loci, “empty” loci should not be empty.
I learn a lot from your posts.
Thanks.

[TheHumanTim]

Some interesting logistical efficiency details:

If you don’t care about using pairs with two of the same card when memorizing decks (aka, shuffling multiple decks together with a chance that those double pairs could show up), and you’re only using this system to learn card memorization, not numbers, you can reduce your learning load by 52 pairs.

BUT

If you want to use this system as a basis for a 3-digit and 2-digit major system list, you’ll need to learn the primary value combos that result in real 3-digit numbers. This means learning all the numerical value double card combos, but you can exclude the picture card doubles.

So learn:
000 = [10 ][10 ] (S-S-S)
011 = [A ][A ] (S-T-T)
022 = [2 ][2 ] (S-N-N)
033 = [3 ][3 ] (S-M-M)
044 = [4 ][4 ] (S-M-R)
055 = [5 ][5 ] (S-M-L)
066 = [6 ][6 ] (S-M-J/SH/CH)
077 = [7 ][7 ] (S-M-K)
088 = [8 ][8 ] (S-M-F)
099 = [9 ][9 ] (S-M-P)

But not:
[J ][J ] (S-D-D) (alt form of 011, which we wouldn’t use because we’d want to be consistent and sound 011 as S-T-T)
[Q ][Q ] (S-B-B) (alt form of 099)
[K ][K ] (S-V-V) (alt form of 088)

same for the and and double sets.

In the grand scheme of things, if you’re going to need to learn 2652 associations (all single deck card pairs only), or 2692 associations (cards plus all 2-digit and 3-digit numbers), then you might as well go all the way and learn the full 2704.

[TheHumanTim]

I’ve got the first half of the pair sets down to about 2.5 seconds each for recognition time. Happy with that improvement after just 18 days of practice, considering there were over 600 new associations to learn in that set. Those new ones are starting to get faster, but they’re definitely skewing the average time high. It’s probably 3-5 seconds to recall the brand new words and around a second for the ones that I’ve been using from the start.

I’m adding the next two suit combos today. (M), and (W). Let’s see how the brain handles another 338 pairs, with about 160 of those being brand new!

[TheHumanTim]

Did a filtered recognition practice session with just the “old” familiar words but across all of the currently learned suit combos, even the ones with changes phonetic starters, about 800 pairs. Happily was able to recognize them at a 1.9 second per pair pace. This means that the “new” suit combo sound associations have started to stick. I was still a tiny bit hesitant when a red-first suit combo came up, as these have “new” sounds, and I’d sometimes second-guess myself, but I’m definitely starting to recognize them and read them as the correct sound instinctively much more often than not, even the newest M / W split. Very confident that this system can exceed the fluency and speed I got with the Shadow System, since every single pair is read the same way: Suits + Value1 + Value2.

[TheHumanTim]

I’m adding the (L) and the (H) sets today. This will make 3/4 of the card pairs now in the learning rotation. I’ve gotten faster at the new ones, only hanging up on maybe 50 or so, but those will come with repetition!

[TheHumanTim]

…and, because why not, I added the (N), and (J) sets too. This leaves me with only my non-traditional brand new sets to go: the “vowel first” set and the “first-person action” set. I’ll get to those in the next week or so.

A lot of new stuff to wire into the old brain, but its been pretty smooth and fun as well. Hopefully by the end of the month I’ll be familiar enough with the new images that I’ll be able to start really gauging my actual speed for complete deck runs with this system.

[TheHumanTim]

Bit by bit, the new associations are strengthening. Probably only about 10 or less in each set that are still hesitant. Been changing quite a few up to go with my instinctive reading of some of the new pairs. The challenge there is to try to make them work with a unique and vivid image that I haven’t already used for something else. I like how things are refining though! At the end of this week, I’ll probably add the final new sets and get going on doing legitimate deck attempts.

[TheHumanTim]

I need an actual name for this system…

I think want to call it the “TIM System” as an homage to @Zoomy’s “Ben” system (and because I want my own named system haha,) but I want “TIM” to be an acronym for something so that I can deny that it’s just vanity that made me name it after myself.

So far the best I’ve come up with is “Targeted Index Method.” (or maybe more appropriately the “Totally Insane Method” haha)

Anybody have any ideas for what TIM could stand for in this system?

[TheHumanTim]

A little more detailed info on how it’s going with bringing this system up to speed:

Today I studied each suit combination once on its own.

Here are the average recognition times for each in Anki, fastest to slowest. This includes all of the new words. I’m happy with the progress here! My short-term target recognition pacing goal is to be under 1.5 seconds per pair. That should put me on a comfortable pace to go under 1 minute for a deck and achieve a new personal best time (under :58 seconds.) Still a ways to go for some sets, but I’ll definitely get there.

(K) = 1.42 seconds per pair (SPP)

(F) = 1.53 SPP

(R) = 1.65

(S) = 1.73

(D) = 1.75

(P) = 1.77

(B) = 1.88

(H) = 1.91

(T) = 1.93

(L) - 2.1

(M) = 2.15

(J) = 2.21

(W) = 2.35

(N) = 2.47

ALL ATTEMPTS COMBINED AVERAGE: 1.95

Tomorrow, I plan on reviewing all pairs as a mixed group. This will help work on speed of recognition of the new suit combination starting sounds. There is still a TINY bit of hesitation when encountering some of the new red-first suits in a random mix, but it is definitely improving. I anticipate within another few weeks that they will be pretty automatic.

At this point I’m actually very comfortable with the new VALUE phonetics. I’m pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to re-train myself to read the picture cards as their new sounds and to isolate the traditionally multi-phonetic values to their single designated sounds. I’m confident I made the right choice by limiting these as now that I’m used to them reading the indices is VERY easy. (There is still a part of me that wants to further optimize the system and restrict 6’s and 10’s so that they are ONLY J’s and S’s just to see if it can be done. I may make a thread with all of those entries and see if we can collectively attack it! Not sure if its feasible to try to restrict the vowel-first suit combo to a single specific vowel sound…)

I think having a single way to approach reading every pair is a huge advantage over systems where there are context dependent reading rules where sometimes you read the indices left to right, sometimes right to left, sometimes suit combo first, sometimes value first. Being able to automate the reading structure seems to save a ton of active effort because when a new pair flips, there is no analysis of the structure and adjustment to how it’s read. It’s always the same. I can focus on the suit combo as the first thing to notice and read no matter what the composition of the pair is.

It still remains to be seen how the new idea of the “first-person action” suit will work, and the ultimate success of the system kind of hinges on it…but I’m pretty optimistic that at least for how my brain approaches scene creation, it will work really well.

[TheHumanTim]

@TheHumanTim

There is still a part of me that wants to further optimize the system and restrict 6’s and 10’s so that they are ONLY J’s and S’s just to see if it can be done

So I took a look at this regarding the 10’s…

I currently have about 40 words that have a Z sound as the second phonetic. .
So a word like “scissor” for [10 ][4 ] has a S-Z-R structure.
It would be “better” if it could follow S-S-R, like “saucer.”
Similarly “susan” for [10 ][2 ] is S-Z-N. Which could be changed to something more optimal like “sassin’'”

There are about 80 additional words that have the Z sound at the end of the word, but I don’t see most of these as being an issue at all, because just about all of them have that Z sound due to a soft S that makes the word plural.

A word like “ribs” [Q ][10 ], technically has an R-B-Z phonetic structure. For me, this is OK, because I really don’t identify that sound actively as a Z.
Similarly, a word like “laces” [10 ][10 ], that has two “S” positions, is structured as L-S-Z, this also doesn’t throw me off.
So I think an ending Z sound when represented by an S (10) is ok.

BUT, an entry like “Toe CHeeSe” [6 ][10 ], is different. It structured as T-CH-Z with a Z sound at the end, but this is different than a plural soft S/Z sound. This is a harder “feeling” Z. A better fit would be something like “Toe SHoeS” where even though it’s a Z sound at the end, it’s represented by that soft plural S. Even better would be “TouCH Screen” with a clearly defined “S” sound at the end.

Lets look at an entry like “sub zero” [Q ][10 ]. This can be problematic if reading fast, because even though the Z is the 3rd sound, it’s not the end of the phrase.
I reflexively read [Q ][10 ] phonetically as S-B-S… not “S-B-Z”… so something like “SuBStance” or “SuB Signal” would be a better fit than “SuB Zero”

Finally, there’s an entry like “NewSieS” [10 ][10 ], where both S’s sound like Z’s. N-Z-Z. Something like “NiCe Suit” would be a more optimal match.

Trying to sort out what I’m getting at here and put it into actual guidelines…

If a softer S/Z sound is the actual last sound of the word, no change is needed. I know this isn’t technically perfect optimization, but it seems unnecessary to exclude plurals or soft S’s that sound like Z.

If the Z sound is the second sound of the word, a change is preferred if looking to optimize phonetic assignments.

If the Z sound is the last representative sound, but not the actual last sound in the word or phrase, a change is also preferred.

So if I account for those parameters…

There are only 9 entries that have the true Z ending sound that could be upgraded.
There are 43 that have a Z in the second position that could be upgraded.

Not horrible, but some of these entries are REALLY fluent for me, so I’m hesitant to change them.

I ran the numbers on the 6’s as well… more on that later.

[CakeForBreakfast]

Truly Integrated Memory system?

[CakeForBreakfast]

I do think you’re allowed to name it after yourself, though. It’s not like you haven’t put the work in! And it’s substantially different from other systems that I’ve seen.