Memory is often reinforced and maintained by repetition. There are other
factors, of course; but repetition is very important for things which do not
of themselves have much emotional force for us. Thus I still know without
thinking that seven nines are sixty three because, I believe, I stood so
many times in a school in inner south london, saying it - I even have a
spatial awareness of that fact related to where it occurs in the table
I HATED tables at the time. I am glad it was done to me.
Yesterday, I bought 4 identical items, each 32p. Something went wrong with
the till entry and, to avoid massive renentry - the design of entry methods
assumes correct entry - it became necessary to make ONE entry
The till person and the manager stared at the machine, uttering this fact as
a prayer. One pound twenty eight, I said. They looked at me very doubtfully.
[Last time something like this happened - the till wasn't working so they
said they couldnt trade because they wouldnt know if their arithmetic was
right]
This just went on.
I tendered 1.98 - the 4 items plus another at 70 - saying I had to go and
might I have my goods?
A colleague, abandoning her till, brought up a calculator and did 4 x 32. I
was greatly admired
The till asked for 1.98. They were in awe
Chances are they would have learned to do what I did, but the process of NOT
using what they have learned has led to a kind of unlearning
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Margaret Penfold" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 1:17 AM
Subject: [WDL] How will digital life affect human memory
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