Every National Standard Memory Championship, be it one day or two-day event, has a 5 minute binary digits event. The task is to memorize and to recall as many random binary digits as possible in order. There will be 30 digits in each row and the number of rows presented depends on the world record + 20%.
Binary digits
Memorization time: 5 minutes.
Recall time: 15 minutes.
Scoring:
Correct Row: 30
One error in a row: 15
Two or more errors in a row: 0
Blank row: 0
Last row (all correct but incomplete): Number of the digits
Last row (incomplete and with one error): Number of digits divided by 2
Last row ( Incomplete and with two errors): 0
Memorization:
Convert each row of 30 digits into 5 images using the Two-digit major system. If you missed the previous article that explains how it is done, Read Encode Binary Digits Into Images.
Two Images per Loci:
Link the first two images with each other and to the location and keep repeating. You will be left with one image in the last, you can either club it with the previous image and link, this requires 3 locations per row.
Or you can club the left over image with the last image in the next row. (Remember that this is risky and it can cost you two rows if you miss it) This requires 5 locations for 2 rows.
Three and two images per loci:
Link the first three images to a location and the next two images to another location or vice versa. This is the most ideal way to memorize binaries and it only requires 2 locations per row.
Review:
There are two common review strategies that athletes use – Review each row or two rows together if you are linking the last images vertically after memorization or memorize your target number of digits and review it all at once.
Time yourself, set an achievable target and keep pushing for it. Make sure there are no recognition errors and no locations being skipped. Make sure you are putting in enough effort for them to stick. Do not worry about forgetting the images or accuracy, It WILL get better with practice.
Remember to trust the process and have fun!! 🙂
Happy Neurons!!