Next week, I’m likely going to be on TV to help a TV host memorize pi to 100 digits. I don’t know anything about his skill level. What if he knows nothing about memory techniques and has no image number? Is it possible for him to memorize that much? I think I will have about 2 hours of filming with the host. What can be done in that amount of time? Teaching him 10 image number 0-9 (the visual ones one-pen or the rhymes One-sun?) and going for a 100 stops journey? Maybe I should look at the pi number and prepare 3 digits rhyme numbers involving the MaJoR system and the host would keep a paper with the key on it to decode the images? This way, there would only be a need for a 33 stops journey. If you think you know what might work best, please let me know.
If you think you have a better idea then please share it with me.
Is it definitely going the be pi memorization? Decimal numbers might be difficult if the person doesn’t already have a memory system for numbers. Maybe try practicing it with a few people before going on the show to see how easy it is for them.
Binary numbers are easier for beginners, but people generally don’t get as excited about it because it doesn’t have many practical uses:
If it doesn’t have to be number memorization, maybe you could find a list that has about 50 points to remember and teach the person the list?
US Presidents in order? (this took me about 90 minutes to teach a group of beginners)
Kings and queens of England? #1 music single for every year since 1960?
Capitals of every country in the world?
List of all of Shakespeare’s plays?
As a fellow Canadian, I was wondering when you’ll be on. I assume it’s a CityLine type thing.
According to my PO list you have 25 people and 25 objects (all of which are recognizable to Canadians). For example numbers 1 to 4 (1415) are ADele writing on a chalkboard while 77 to 80 are 0899 which would translate in my list to Oliver Hardy hoisting the Stanley Cup. If you could get a hold of the host early you could perhaps put a bug in his ear to make a journey of 25 spots around his house. At the front door, front foyer, two spots in the in the 2-piece w/r by the front door are 16 digits right there. Four walls in three bedrooms are another 48. Then you can walk him through the associations later when you’re there. I can post my Pi Person/Object list if you want to take a look at it.
The hosts’ “big wish” is to memorize pi to 100 digits so it is going to be pi.
I’ve just sent a message to the show produce to have the host prepare a journey of 34 stops. I’ll cut off pi in chunks of 3 and find a MaJoR image for each of them. When this is done, I’ll mail it off to the produce to give to the host so that he attempts to personalize those 34 images. If he’ll agree to decode the images using the phonetic key in his hands, it should be possible. The PO idea sounds good too; I’ll give it some thoughts. Thanks.
The way I’ve done it, what’s quite easy in my newbie-opinion, is quite simple. I’ve taken five objects from the real world, and used them at the start of a story incorporating the People, the Actions and Objects, with each person performing an action with an object representing three numbers in total, before flowing onto the next person, and so fourth.
It wouldn’t be too hard to memorize a basic PAO system and create a simple memory palace room to hold the initial five items that would start the stories in about half an hour (Especially if you wrote them down to begin with). With each story consisting of 21 digets (Seven Characters performing actions holding/using certain objects, each flowing effortlessly from one to another, perhaps with the original object that pegs the beginning of the story also helping to link each person performing said action and said-object)
Example:
Item that pegs to start of story: Frankensteins Tesla Coil
P= Number 3 - Iron Man
A= Number 1 - Sieg Heil (It has to be something memorable after all, don’t hate me)
O= Number 4 - Violin
Iron Man Siegheiling while holding the Violin, playing it while holding the bow in his teeth - waving back and fourth ontop of a gigantic tesla coil. What would cause Hitler(1) to begin laughing Hysterically (5) while raising the Damocles Key into the air (8) and so fourth. Very simple!
Although you’ve already decided on your system to use I suppose!
Good luck! I hope you don’t become a national embarrassment on Television!
And I’d use something he’ll already know, like Alphabet system, as a journey.
The link 3-4 numbers along each letter location. Chances are you’ll get lucky and get 1969 (moon-landing), or the year of his child’s birth, etc. If so, go with them.
Yeah I’d use divrom’s idea of getting the host to use any numbers that happen to crop up that are meaningful such as pin, years of birth, birthdays etc.
If I were in your position I’d probably spend an 45 mins teaching and practising the major system and then go striaght into a story/link method (unless he wants to have the numbers indexed, then that is a totally different problem). With an hour to generate a story and practise it as much as possible.
The presenter needs to make the story up himself with your guidance as that will be easiest for him to remember,
Best of Luck, I’d be interested in hearing how you get on.
Oh, and don’t forget pi does not actually = 22/7 !!! Some people in the audience checking it on their phone might do this sum and say the presenter is incorrect after only a few decimal places
