Josh Notes

A few more thoughts on memory:

Increasing Speed

I realized that since I don't know how to encode 0 to 99 with the Pridmore System I can continue to use the Dominic System for numbers 00 to 99, and slowly work in the 3-digit chunking as I learn it to see if it is faster for me. If not, I won't lose anything by overwriting my current system.

I'm still a relative beginner, but it seems like there are four stages in memorizing large sets of data, all of which happen extremely quickly:

1. Chunking the data -- typically in sets of between one and four cards or numbers. Cards are usually chunked as just one or two, and numbers typically two, three, or four. It seems like the larger the chunk of data, the fewer times this process has to be repeated. For decimal digits, chunks of two typically require between 100 and 300 images, and chunks of three require 1,000 images. Tony Buzan describes a way to build 10,000 images from 1,000, which would allow the chunking of four decimal digits at a time, but I'm not sure if that is approaching the point of diminishing returns in terms of speed during step #2. (Has anyone tried it?)
2. Retrieval of images -- Each chunk has to be converted into an image or part of a compound image. Repeat steps one and two until all of the images for a single locus are encoded. The more images that can be placed in one locus, the fewer times one has to go through the whole cycle.
3. Retrieval of locus -- the brain has to quickly search to find the current place in the memory journey.
4. Placement of image(s) in locus -- the brain deposits between one and three images (or more) in the locus, and then goes back to step #1, above

The reason I'm thinking about this, is that it appears that 9 decimal digits (or 10 binary digits) with the Pridmore System takes only one trip through the cycle above, as opposed to 6 digits per cycle with my current method. This is how I imagine Pridmore's System working for binary numbers:

1. Chunk the first four digits
2. Encode an image, and go back to step #1 two more times, encoding three digits each time for a total of 10 digits
3. Retrieve the locus
4. Place three images in one locus, then go back to step #1 for the next set of 10 digits

It seems incredibly efficient...

Rearranging My Images

Last night as I progressed further on trying to learn how Ben Pridmore's system works, I realized it might be easier to remember the vowels if I rearranged them with personal associations.

The original vowels are here (along with a full description of the system I'm trying to figure out). This is how I'm generating my images at the moment:

If anyone has any tips, please feel free to comment...