I think this is super cool. Another thing you can do is build a mind palace or it's more formal name "Method of loci" It helps expand your memory with can help you deduce faster.
Took the words right out of my mouth! My next post (in the works now) covers mind palaces and techniques for converting data into something the brain can more easily encode and store. While I am by no means an expert, I have used these techniques to remember shopping lists, speeches, even an entire deck of playing cards. If you'd like an interesting introductory read regarding this subject, I highly recommend Josh Foer's book, "Moonwalking with Einstein." He also gives a great Ted Talk.
I've been practicing deduction techniques for a while now, and I've got to say yours is my favourite blog on the subject. So, as a thank you for all the help, I have a gift of sorts:
Long story short, I've come across an 8GB USB almost full of pictures, music, movies, and documents dating back several years. There's no way to return it to the original owner (I do promise I've tried) and I'm having a lot of fun seeing what I can make of it all and I'm curious to see what you could deduce. It's a rare gift to have so much to work with!
I'd be happy to zip it all up and drop it into your facebook or email (whichever you'd prefer), but I would also like your word that you won't post any of the contents online, obviously due to lack of permission from the subjects.
M, that sounds like a really fun experiment. You can find my email through my Google + page, I believe. Otherwise you could find me on Facebook (I've made no effort to hide it). And of course I respect the privacy of our unknown individual. Also, if you could, send me a little about why you cannot seem to return the drive to its original owner. I'm interested to see if it is remotely possible, as this would make an interesting research project of sorts.
Thanks again for the input, and I'm glad you enjoy the blog!
Another person who is serious about Sherlock-likeness. I think that know on is clearly a Sherlock but as a group or perhaps community, the cleverest so-called Sherlock's make a shadow of the fictional detective himself.
It's nice to see another fan of the great detective. I like the idea that people can work together to deduce far more than our beloved Mr. Holmes ever could.
That being said, I think that you're selling yourself short by thinking that no one can be a "Sherlock." There are a great many perceptive individuals out there who, with just a little training, could be almost as good as the fictional detective (who by the way, supposedly trained his whole life to be what he is). There is definitely potential for anyone to excel at the art/science of deduction, even to fictional levels.
Is it possible to determine if someone is a lawyer or an accountant,for instance, just by observing them? Or you can just deduce that he is doing an office work?
Some questions to improving or starting these exercises, you have maybe 8 or so pictures to try our deductions on, but if we want more practice, do you have any site in particular or keywords you look up in google images to find the right pictures to practice on?
Also you have explained how certain things such as a watch can tell handedness, or flowers suggests female etc, it's not like there is a huge list online that tell you oh look for a watch, look for flowers etc, so how do you go about learning all this stuff, because I feel like if I might keep practicing, but if I never knew to look for a watch in the start I will keep missing it and the practice will be kinda useless
None come to mind immediately for training purposes. As of now, the science of observation has surprisingly few textbooks. From now on, if I come across any "study materials," I shall post links to them on the main page (or if there are many, I may create a separate page).
As for motivation/history, one book I've found for mnemonics is "The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci." It's a historical account/review of a Jesuit missionary who wanted to convert the Chinese to Christianity. In doing so, he used a mind palace to teach himself Chinese, and wrote a treatise on mnemonics IN CHINESE.
Hi, thank you for this blog, it's by far the best on the subject...
I have one question though. I really liked that "Where to look" post about hands and I would be really happy to see one about backpacks... Since I'm in high school, I see backpacks everywhere (during class, in the campus, in the bus), but what I can get from them?
Anyway, thank you for creating this wonderful blog, and sorry for my bad English, I'm Brazilian,
Is the question "can you" as in "are you capable"? If so, then yes. I frequently make deductions about friends and complete strangers in public, and in real-time. It's by far the most fun way to practice.
If the question is a request for an example, rest assured I am working on ways to make this possible via the blog. One idea I've been throwing around is creating a video tutorial for the more easily observed stuff. Feel free to submit pictures of people for the deductions as well.
i love this blog, would you be able to do a what to look for on people, cause usually we look at people most of the time in our lives, eg hands, face, clothes etc
Recently i have started chinese language to learn and getting some difficulties in memory technique eventually as i am using loci method to remember the words of any languages but for chinese some how its a different story.
Q: how do i remember chinese words with meaning + tones + writing strokes without pinyin.
Q: How can i use syllable like english in chinese.
Please assist me in write direction. Thanks for advise
As I'm not intimately familiar with the language, I may not be able to give the most conclusive answer on the topic, but I'll see if I can point you in the right direction:
1. One technique I have heard of is to create an image for the meaning of a word, then create a second image for the shape of the characters involved. Combining those images will allow you to memorize the vocabulary of the writing system.
2. In order to add information about syllables and pronunciation, I would suggest layering on information like tone by coming up with an image for each kind of tone (I believe Mandarin has 4 or 5, and Cantonese has more). For syllables, it may be useful to think of an English word that sounds like the syllable, and layer that onto the tone.
In the end, every new word would have two images. One to tell you how it is written and what it means, and another to tell you how to say it aloud.
I think this is super cool. Another thing you can do is build a mind palace or it's more formal name "Method of loci" It helps expand your memory with can help you deduce faster.
ReplyDeleteTook the words right out of my mouth! My next post (in the works now) covers mind palaces and techniques for converting data into something the brain can more easily encode and store. While I am by no means an expert, I have used these techniques to remember shopping lists, speeches, even an entire deck of playing cards. If you'd like an interesting introductory read regarding this subject, I highly recommend Josh Foer's book, "Moonwalking with Einstein." He also gives a great Ted Talk.
DeleteHi,
DeleteI've been practicing deduction techniques for a while now, and I've got to say yours is my favourite blog on the subject. So, as a thank you for all the help, I have a gift of sorts:
Long story short, I've come across an 8GB USB almost full of pictures, music, movies, and documents dating back several years. There's no way to return it to the original owner (I do promise I've tried) and I'm having a lot of fun seeing what I can make of it all and I'm curious to see what you could deduce. It's a rare gift to have so much to work with!
I'd be happy to zip it all up and drop it into your facebook or email (whichever you'd prefer), but I would also like your word that you won't post any of the contents online, obviously due to lack of permission from the subjects.
Let me know...
M
M, that sounds like a really fun experiment. You can find my email through my Google + page, I believe. Otherwise you could find me on Facebook (I've made no effort to hide it). And of course I respect the privacy of our unknown individual. Also, if you could, send me a little about why you cannot seem to return the drive to its original owner. I'm interested to see if it is remotely possible, as this would make an interesting research project of sorts.
DeleteThanks again for the input, and I'm glad you enjoy the blog!
Another person who is serious about Sherlock-likeness. I think that know on is clearly a Sherlock but as a group or perhaps community, the cleverest so-called Sherlock's make a shadow of the fictional detective himself.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see another fan of the great detective. I like the idea that people can work together to deduce far more than our beloved Mr. Holmes ever could.
DeleteThat being said, I think that you're selling yourself short by thinking that no one can be a "Sherlock." There are a great many perceptive individuals out there who, with just a little training, could be almost as good as the fictional detective (who by the way, supposedly trained his whole life to be what he is). There is definitely potential for anyone to excel at the art/science of deduction, even to fictional levels.
This blog is awesome. Please keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to determine if someone is a lawyer or an accountant,for instance, just by observing them? Or you can just deduce that he is doing an office work?
ReplyDeletevery interesting blog. some more "where to look" please
ReplyDeleteSome questions to improving or starting these exercises, you have maybe 8 or so pictures to try our deductions on, but if we want more practice, do you have any site in particular or keywords you look up in google images to find the right pictures to practice on?
ReplyDeleteAlso you have explained how certain things such as a watch can tell handedness, or flowers suggests female etc, it's not like there is a huge list online that tell you oh look for a watch, look for flowers etc, so how do you go about learning all this stuff, because I feel like if I might keep practicing, but if I never knew to look for a watch in the start I will keep missing it and the practice will be kinda useless
Do you have any books you recommend for training?
ReplyDeleteNone come to mind immediately for training purposes. As of now, the science of observation has surprisingly few textbooks. From now on, if I come across any "study materials," I shall post links to them on the main page (or if there are many, I may create a separate page).
DeleteAs for motivation/history, one book I've found for mnemonics is "The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci." It's a historical account/review of a Jesuit missionary who wanted to convert the Chinese to Christianity. In doing so, he used a mind palace to teach himself Chinese, and wrote a treatise on mnemonics IN CHINESE.
Hi, thank you for this blog, it's by far the best on the subject...
ReplyDeleteI have one question though. I really liked that "Where to look" post about hands and I would be really happy to see one about backpacks... Since I'm in high school, I see backpacks everywhere (during class, in the campus, in the bus), but what I can get from them?
Anyway, thank you for creating this wonderful blog, and sorry for my bad English, I'm Brazilian,
- K
Thank you! It absolutely made my day when I read this comment. Also, your English is impeccable for it being a second language.
DeleteP.S. - I'll get to work on a backpack post straight away.
Can you make deductions in real life, i mean just observing people and not photographs?
ReplyDeleteIs the question "can you" as in "are you capable"? If so, then yes. I frequently make deductions about friends and complete strangers in public, and in real-time. It's by far the most fun way to practice.
DeleteIf the question is a request for an example, rest assured I am working on ways to make this possible via the blog. One idea I've been throwing around is creating a video tutorial for the more easily observed stuff. Feel free to submit pictures of people for the deductions as well.
i love this blog, would you be able to do a what to look for on people, cause usually we look at people most of the time in our lives, eg hands, face, clothes etc
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteRecently i have started chinese language to learn and getting some difficulties in memory technique eventually as i am using loci method to remember the words of any languages but for chinese some how its a different story.
Q: how do i remember chinese words with meaning + tones + writing strokes without pinyin.
Q: How can i use syllable like english in chinese.
Please assist me in write direction.
Thanks for advise
As I'm not intimately familiar with the language, I may not be able to give the most conclusive answer on the topic, but I'll see if I can point you in the right direction:
Delete1. One technique I have heard of is to create an image for the meaning of a word, then create a second image for the shape of the characters involved. Combining those images will allow you to memorize the vocabulary of the writing system.
2. In order to add information about syllables and pronunciation, I would suggest layering on information like tone by coming up with an image for each kind of tone (I believe Mandarin has 4 or 5, and Cantonese has more). For syllables, it may be useful to think of an English word that sounds like the syllable, and layer that onto the tone.
In the end, every new word would have two images. One to tell you how it is written and what it means, and another to tell you how to say it aloud.
I hope this was helpful!