Number to Image Systems

Now you could try to memorise numbers using the techniques already discussed. But there are some problems with remembering numbers that make it hard/impossible to do without further attention to the subject.

1. They have no memorable image. For say a clock, there is an obvious image to use in a location, a giant, loudly ticking clock. For a number, say 9, it's harder. Sure you can use a huge, glistening metal 3D nine, but that's not that different from a large, shiny silver six. Telling the difference later is difficult.

A clock is already an object that can interact with the location or peg (eg. the minute hand bashing onto the dresser because it's so large), a number has to be translated into an image that can interact with the imagined environment.

2. There's generally a lot of them. Take a phone number: 026 5466 893. That's already 10 images, which isn't that many, but this can add up, and they get extremely repetitive.

But if we're translating numbers into images as in (1) then we can surely make them more memorable than just big numbers. We do that by assigning interesting images to each number. And we try to bring down the number of mental snapshots required by assigning one to each two-digit number.

There are two main techniques for using number to image codes. Both involve translating a two digit number to a single image, and then remembering the image as an item in the manner of the previous systems. Both have advantages and disadvantages and recommended uses.

To the right is a table that translates numbers to phonetic consonants. The logic behind these:

• Zero begins with Z so the two sussurants s and z stand for zero.
• t and d both have one downstroke, so they stand for one.
• n has two.
• m has three.
• fouR ends in r.
• the Roman numeral for 50 is L.
• Six is 
• sa
• Eight looks like an f in cursive handwriting, and v is a similar consonant.
• n

Seems difficult and needlessly complex doesn't it? That's what everyone says. But wait, it gets better.

1. Now we take a two digit number: 33,
2. we translate it into phonemes: mm,
3. and then make a word out of it: mime.

That has turned an unmemorable number into an interesting image.

Now suppose we want to remember that telephone number. (026 5466 893).

We can split this up into 5 images: 

• 02 - d, n - DuNe
• 65 - sh,l - SHeLL
• 46 - r,sh - RuSH
• 68 - sh,f - CHeF
• 93 - b, m - BeaM

So if I want to remember this telephone number, my work is reduced to five images, or less if you want to combine them. I have a choice about what system to remember these images, as from here on it's just the same as if we were remembering a short list. Say I decide to use the first five places in my ten location (my house) Roman Room. Then I proceed:

• In the Attic (Locus 1) is a wave of sand, a dune, swirling across the floor. The sand gets in my eyes.
• In the office (Locus 2) a large sea shell rests in the armchair.
• In the spare room (Locus 3) are some rushes swaying in the wind, which I hear and feel. (See box on this)
• In my bedroom is a chef, cooking on my bed.
• Finally in the bathroom a large wooden beam comes down into the bath, I hit my head on it as I walk in.

One final detail is required. I need to remember who's phone number this is. Say it's my brother's. Then I imagine my brother sitting in the first locus (the attic) in the midst of all that sand. Now when I try to think of my brothers number, I will see him there and know that the next five images represent his number.

Question: But what if I want to remember lots of numbers, where do I put them all?

Answer: extend your journey. In the next section we'll see how long journeys can be used to store large amounts of information. But with such short journeys it's easy to extend them; just add five more loci every time you need to add a new number.

Note: this is why it's difficult to use the peg system for this as five new pegs would be needed for each image, and that quickly gets confusing. Whereas with a journey it's much easier to remember the order of the loci.

We go into more detail on the use of numbers in the advanced section.

Workbook   Immediately memorise the numeric alphabet to the right. Then get practising.