21–30 of 63 posts
You know how people say: “on a scale of 1-10”? I’ve used the principle of Millers law to start asking people to measure on a scale of 1-7. Universally, people balk at the scale. But I explain to them that most people can’t tell the difference between 2 and 3 on a ten point scale. If you can’t articulate a difference, there’s no use in the measurement. Seven is great because you get more than the simplicity of 1-5. So…
I think 5-9 words is much more than 7 bits of information...
Tangential, but I was able to recite all the words, but only because memorized them in a nonsensical, but easier to remember story. I like the exercise because it forces me to be creative. The CAT looked at me eating an APPLE, I threw a BALL outside to see if it would chase it instead it climbed a TREE...
More and more I believe that ignorance thus space exploration and Miller's "level 1" cache has a huge role in our enjoyment of things.
Tangential, but I was able to recite all the words, but only because memorized them in a nonsensical, but easier to remember story. I like the exercise because it forces me to be creative. The CAT looked at me eating an APPLE, I threw a BALL outside to see if it would chase it instead it climbed a TREE...
I also started to do that, but it is pointless except for specific purposes or memory competitions. In real life you can’t go creating memory palaces or funny stories for everything. And it distracts from other more important points in the article, like remind how bad is our memory.
The couple key strategies for a memory palace are:
1. Ensure your palace is as real as possible. Spend some time mentally mapping out every detail of your palace in your mind so that you don't have to later.
2. The more animated or "human" the better. Our minds are better at remembering faces.
3. The dirtier the better. Our brains are also way better at remembering sexual imagery.
I got about 13 words on this test using this technique poorly and it only took a couple seconds (and I didn't memorize the second half of the list).
What does memory have to do with how many things are on screen at one time? Do UI elements get turned into a memorized list or something? But longer term you can store longer lists. I'm not sure how this limited short term memory phenomenon relates to UI?
What does memory have to do with how many things are on screen at one time? Do UI elements get turned into a memorized list or something? But longer term you can store longer lists. I'm not sure how this limited short term memory phenomenon relates to UI?
Seven plus or minus two refers to working memory. When you encounter say a navigation menu with 10+ unstructured items, it becomes impossible to consider all the options at once.
Tangential, but I was able to recite all the words, but only because memorized them in a nonsensical, but easier to remember story. I like the exercise because it forces me to be creative. The CAT looked at me eating an APPLE, I threw a BALL outside to see if it would chase it instead it climbed a TREE...
Me, too. Instead of having to remember all 20 words, I just had to remember a few stories: the cat eating an apple on a ball in a tree, the square face whose house is a boxcar, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci
https://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer_feats_of_memory_anyone...