Short-Term Memory
You hear that there was strategy behind the U.S. seven-digit phone number system, and I believe it.
At the pellet mill, we have a scale that continuously weighs the pellets we're producing, and keeping a running tally of the days totals. Before too long, we're up in the six digit area, the hundred's of thousands of pounds. To get an idea of the rate we're producing at, we have to know the time and amount at one point in time, and then the time and amount a ways down the road. So that's six + four = 10 numbers to remember and write down.
So I look at the poundage tally. Ok, got it. 156,341. Then I look at the time, ok 10:21. Then I turn to write the poundage. By the time I write the poundage, I'm doing well if I can make a correct educated guess on the vague impression that was 10:21 in my mind. That fast, it's gone. My short-term memory can not hold ten numbers, at least in this context.
posted by Byran @ 3:56 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I don't get it, what was the strategy behind phone numbers?
Why don't you just look at the time when you're in the office and have something to write it down.
Tom
I think there was research that suggested that 7 numbers was relatively easy for people to remember.
The scale readout and the time are at the same place. It's just that I can't hardly keep all ten numbers in my head without writing the weight down first. But then, the time might change! I guess I could write the time down first, that would work, but that wasn't my point.
Oh really Tom
from mardy
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