1
00:00:00,865 --> 00:00:03,898
Do you think it's possible
to control someone's attention?

2
00:00:05,664 --> 00:00:08,665
Even more than that,
what about predicting human behavior?

3
00:00:10,157 --> 00:00:12,012
I think those are interesting ideas.

4
00:00:12,036 --> 00:00:14,235
For me, that would be
the perfect superpower,

5
00:00:14,259 --> 00:00:16,592
actually kind of an evil way
of approaching it.

6
00:00:16,616 --> 00:00:19,719
But for myself, in the past,
I've spent the last 20 years

7
00:00:19,743 --> 00:00:23,221
studying human behavior
from a rather unorthodox way:

8
00:00:23,245 --> 00:00:24,541
picking pockets.

9
00:00:25,201 --> 00:00:26,717
When we think of misdirection,

10
00:00:26,741 --> 00:00:29,082
we think of something
as looking off to the side,

11
00:00:29,106 --> 00:00:31,331
when actually the things
right in front of us

12
00:00:31,355 --> 00:00:32,954
are often the hardest to see,

13
00:00:32,978 --> 00:00:35,917
the things that you look at every day
that you're blinded to.

14
00:00:35,941 --> 00:00:39,692
For example, how many of you still have
your cell phones on you right now?

15
00:00:40,671 --> 00:00:41,888
Great. Double-check.

16
00:00:41,912 --> 00:00:43,465
Make sure you still have them.

17
00:00:43,489 --> 00:00:45,171
I was doing some shopping before.

18
00:00:45,195 --> 00:00:46,250
(Laughter)

19
00:00:46,274 --> 00:00:48,192
You've looked at them a few times today,

20
00:00:48,216 --> 00:00:49,566
but I'll ask you a question.

21
00:00:49,590 --> 00:00:51,443
Without looking at it directly yet,

22
00:00:51,467 --> 00:00:54,617
can you remember the icon
in the bottom right corner?

23
00:00:55,950 --> 00:00:58,615
Bring them out, check and see
how accurate you were.

24
00:01:02,382 --> 00:01:03,533
How'd you do?

25
00:01:03,557 --> 00:01:05,056
Show of hands. Did we get it?

26
00:01:06,326 --> 00:01:08,160
Now that you're done, close them down.

27
00:01:08,184 --> 00:01:09,912
Every phone has something in common.

28
00:01:09,936 --> 00:01:11,919
No matter how you organize the icons,

29
00:01:11,943 --> 00:01:13,679
you still have a clock on the front.

30
00:01:13,703 --> 00:01:16,735
So, without looking at your phone,
what time was it?

31
00:01:17,568 --> 00:01:19,536
You just looked at your clock, right?

32
00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:20,711
Interesting idea.

33
00:01:20,735 --> 00:01:23,179
Let's take that a step further
with a game of trust.

34
00:01:23,203 --> 00:01:24,353
Close your eyes.

35
00:01:24,966 --> 00:01:27,608
I realize I'm asking you to do
that while you just heard

36
00:01:27,632 --> 00:01:30,164
there's a pickpocket in the room,
but close your eyes.

37
00:01:30,655 --> 00:01:33,715
Now, you've been watching me
for about 30 seconds.

38
00:01:34,303 --> 00:01:36,644
With your eyes closed, what am I wearing?

39
00:01:37,742 --> 00:01:39,139
Make your best guess.

40
00:01:39,163 --> 00:01:41,919
What color is my shirt?
What color is my tie?

41
00:01:42,671 --> 00:01:44,022
Now open your eyes.

42
00:01:44,046 --> 00:01:45,628
Show of hands, were you right?

43
00:01:46,776 --> 00:01:47,927
Interesting, isn't it?

44
00:01:47,951 --> 00:01:51,071
Some of us are a little bit
more perceptive than others, it seems.

45
00:01:51,095 --> 00:01:54,031
But I have a different theory
about that model of attention.

46
00:01:54,055 --> 00:01:57,590
They have fancy models of attention,
Posner's trinity model of attention.

47
00:01:57,614 --> 00:02:00,948
For me, I like to think of it very
simple, like a surveillance system.

48
00:02:00,972 --> 00:02:03,739
It's kind of like you have
all these fancy sensors,

49
00:02:03,763 --> 00:02:06,097
and inside your brain
is a little security guard.

50
00:02:06,121 --> 00:02:07,895
For me, I like to call him Frank.

51
00:02:08,532 --> 00:02:10,488
So Frank is sitting at a desk.

52
00:02:10,512 --> 00:02:12,851
He's got lots of cool
information in front of him,

53
00:02:12,875 --> 00:02:14,725
high-tech equipment, he's got cameras,

54
00:02:14,749 --> 00:02:17,855
he's got a little phone
that he can pick up, listen to the ears,

55
00:02:17,879 --> 00:02:20,020
all these senses, all these perceptions.

56
00:02:20,354 --> 00:02:22,899
But attention is what steers
your perceptions,

57
00:02:22,923 --> 00:02:24,693
it's what controls your reality.

58
00:02:24,717 --> 00:02:26,552
It's the gateway to the mind.

59
00:02:26,576 --> 00:02:29,387
If you don't attend to something,
you can't be aware of it.

60
00:02:29,411 --> 00:02:32,898
But ironically, you can attend
to something without being aware of it.

61
00:02:32,922 --> 00:02:34,564
For example, the cocktail effect:

62
00:02:34,588 --> 00:02:37,068
You're in a party, having
conversations with someone,

63
00:02:37,092 --> 00:02:38,775
and yet you can recognize your name

64
00:02:38,799 --> 00:02:40,952
without realizing
you were listening to that.

65
00:02:40,976 --> 00:02:44,026
Now, for my job, I have to play
with techniques to exploit this,

66
00:02:44,050 --> 00:02:46,895
to play with your attention
as a limited resource.

67
00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,030
So if I could control
how you spend your attention,

68
00:02:50,054 --> 00:02:53,063
if I could maybe steal your attention
through a distraction.

69
00:02:53,087 --> 00:02:55,847
Now, instead of doing it like misdirection

70
00:02:55,871 --> 00:02:57,395
and throwing it off to the side,

71
00:02:57,419 --> 00:02:59,879
instead, what I choose
to focus on is Frank,

72
00:02:59,903 --> 00:03:02,450
to be able to play with the Frank
inside your head,

73
00:03:02,474 --> 00:03:03,625
your security guard,

74
00:03:03,649 --> 00:03:06,456
and get you, instead of focusing
on your external senses,

75
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,341
just to go internal for a second.

76
00:03:09,365 --> 00:03:12,551
So if I ask you to access
a memory, like, what is that?

77
00:03:12,575 --> 00:03:14,528
What just happened? Do you have a wallet?

78
00:03:14,552 --> 00:03:16,791
Do you have an American Express
in your wallet?

79
00:03:16,815 --> 00:03:18,983
And when I do that,
your Frank turns around.

80
00:03:19,850 --> 00:03:22,136
He accesses the file.
He has to rewind the tape.

81
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,359
What's interesting is,
he can't rewind the tape

82
00:03:24,383 --> 00:03:26,913
at the same time that he's trying
to process new data.

83
00:03:27,263 --> 00:03:28,765
This sounds like a good theory,

84
00:03:28,789 --> 00:03:31,540
but I could talk for a long time,
tell you lots of things,

85
00:03:31,564 --> 00:03:33,270
and a portion of them may be true,

86
00:03:33,294 --> 00:03:36,354
but I think it's better if I tried
to show that to you here live.

87
00:03:36,378 --> 00:03:38,917
If I come down, I'm going
to do a bit of shopping.

88
00:03:38,941 --> 00:03:40,455
Just hold still where you are.

89
00:03:43,503 --> 00:03:46,187
Hello, how are you?
It's lovely to see you.

90
00:03:46,211 --> 00:03:47,362
Wonderful job onstage.

91
00:03:47,386 --> 00:03:49,450
Lovely watch, it doesn't
come off very well.

92
00:03:49,474 --> 00:03:50,878
Do you have a ring as well?

93
00:03:50,902 --> 00:03:53,248
Good. Just taking inventory.
You're like a buffet.

94
00:03:53,272 --> 00:03:55,741
Hard to tell where to start,
so many great things.

95
00:03:55,765 --> 00:03:57,425
Hi, how are you? Good to see you.

96
00:03:57,449 --> 00:04:00,362
Hi, sir, could you stand up, please?
Just right where you are.

97
00:04:00,386 --> 00:04:02,406
You're married,
you follow directions well.

98
00:04:02,430 --> 00:04:03,580
Nice to meet you, sir.

99
00:04:03,604 --> 00:04:06,326
You don't have a lot in your pockets.
Anything down here?

100
00:04:07,288 --> 00:04:10,058
Hopefully so. Have a seat. There you go.
You're doing well.

101
00:04:10,082 --> 00:04:11,542
Hi, sir, how are you?

102
00:04:11,566 --> 00:04:13,771
Good to see you, sir.
You have a ring, a watch.

103
00:04:13,795 --> 00:04:15,872
Do you have a wallet on you? Joe: I don't.

104
00:04:15,898 --> 00:04:18,679
AR: Well, we'll find one for you.
Come on up this way, Joe.

105
00:04:18,703 --> 00:04:21,774
Give Joe a round of applause.
Come on up, Joe. Let's play a game.

106
00:04:21,798 --> 00:04:24,561
(Applause)

107
00:04:26,437 --> 00:04:27,917
AR: Pardon me.

108
00:04:28,535 --> 00:04:30,627
I don't think I need this clicker anymore.

109
00:04:30,651 --> 00:04:32,579
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

110
00:04:32,603 --> 00:04:35,413
Come on up to the stage, Joe.
Let's play a little game now.

111
00:04:35,437 --> 00:04:37,108
Anything in your front pockets?

112
00:04:37,132 --> 00:04:38,283
J: Money.

113
00:04:38,307 --> 00:04:40,536
AR: Money! All right, let's try that.

114
00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,702
Can you stand right over this way for me?

115
00:04:43,352 --> 00:04:44,677
Turn around and, let's see,

116
00:04:44,701 --> 00:04:46,717
if I give you something
that belongs to me,

117
00:04:46,741 --> 00:04:48,928
this is just something I have,

118
00:04:48,952 --> 00:04:50,107
a poker chip.

119
00:04:50,131 --> 00:04:51,409
Hold out your hand for me.

120
00:04:52,044 --> 00:04:53,194
Watch it closely.

121
00:04:53,218 --> 00:04:54,901
This is a task for you to focus on.

122
00:04:55,439 --> 00:04:57,574
You have your money in your front pocket?

123
00:04:57,598 --> 00:04:58,749
J: Yup.
AR: Good.

124
00:04:58,773 --> 00:05:02,465
I won't put my hand in your pocket.
I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.

125
00:05:02,489 --> 00:05:04,222
Once a guy had a hole in his pocket,

126
00:05:04,246 --> 00:05:06,159
and that was rather traumatizing for me.

127
00:05:06,183 --> 00:05:08,196
I wanted his wallet,
he gave me his number.

128
00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:09,379
Big miscommunication.

129
00:05:09,403 --> 00:05:10,404
(Laughter)

130
00:05:10,428 --> 00:05:12,586
Let's do this simply.
Squeeze your hand tight.

131
00:05:12,610 --> 00:05:14,531
Do you feel the poker chip in your hand?

132
00:05:14,555 --> 00:05:15,705
J: I do.

133
00:05:15,729 --> 00:05:18,028
AR: Would you be surprised
if I took it? Say yes.

134
00:05:18,052 --> 00:05:19,203
J: Very.
AR: Good.

135
00:05:19,227 --> 00:05:21,010
Open your hand. Thank you very much.

136
00:05:21,034 --> 00:05:22,734
I'll cheat if you give me a chance.

137
00:05:22,758 --> 00:05:24,822
Make it harder for me. Just use your hand.

138
00:05:24,846 --> 00:05:26,817
Grab my wrist, but squeeze, squeeze firm.

139
00:05:26,841 --> 00:05:29,015
Did you see it go? Joe: No.

140
00:05:29,039 --> 00:05:30,849
AR: No, it's not here. Open your hand.

141
00:05:30,873 --> 00:05:33,991
While we're focused on the hand,
it's sitting on your shoulder.

142
00:05:35,055 --> 00:05:36,542
Go ahead and take it off.

143
00:05:36,566 --> 00:05:38,014
Now, let's try that again.

144
00:05:38,038 --> 00:05:39,944
Hold your hand out flat. Open it up.

145
00:05:39,968 --> 00:05:42,785
Put your hand up a little bit higher,
but watch it close.

146
00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:44,934
If I did it slowly,
it'd be on your shoulder.

147
00:05:45,983 --> 00:05:47,399
(Laughter)

148
00:05:47,423 --> 00:05:49,995
Joe, we're going to keep doing
this till you catch it.

149
00:05:50,019 --> 00:05:52,193
You'll get it eventually.
I have faith in you.

150
00:05:52,217 --> 00:05:54,307
Squeeze firm.
You're human, you're not slow.

151
00:05:54,331 --> 00:05:55,629
It's back on your shoulder.

152
00:05:56,241 --> 00:05:58,439
You were focused on your hand, distracted.

153
00:05:58,463 --> 00:06:01,329
While you were watching,
I couldn't get your watch off.

154
00:06:01,353 --> 00:06:03,592
Yet you had something inside your pocket.

155
00:06:03,616 --> 00:06:04,990
Do you remember what it was?

156
00:06:05,418 --> 00:06:06,569
J: Money.

157
00:06:06,593 --> 00:06:08,637
AR: Check your pocket. Is it still there?

158
00:06:08,661 --> 00:06:09,662
(Laughter)

159
00:06:09,686 --> 00:06:11,632
Oh, there it was. Put it away.

160
00:06:11,656 --> 00:06:12,807
We're just shopping.

161
00:06:12,831 --> 00:06:14,519
This trick's more about the timing.

162
00:06:14,543 --> 00:06:16,685
I'm going to try to push it
inside your hand.

163
00:06:16,709 --> 00:06:18,879
Put your other hand on top, would you?

164
00:06:18,903 --> 00:06:20,672
It's amazingly obvious now, isn't it?

165
00:06:20,696 --> 00:06:23,201
Looks a lot like the watch
I was wearing, doesn't it?

166
00:06:23,225 --> 00:06:24,526
(Laughter) (Applause)

167
00:06:24,550 --> 00:06:26,916
J: That's pretty good.
AR: Oh, thanks.

168
00:06:26,940 --> 00:06:29,202
(Applause)

169
00:06:29,226 --> 00:06:32,106
But it's only a start.
Let's try it a little bit differently.

170
00:06:32,130 --> 00:06:34,480
Hold your hands together.
Your other hand on top.

171
00:06:34,504 --> 00:06:36,276
If you're watching this little token,

172
00:06:36,300 --> 00:06:39,248
this obviously has become
a little target, like a red herring.

173
00:06:39,272 --> 00:06:42,049
If we watch this kind of close,
it looks like it goes away.

174
00:06:42,073 --> 00:06:43,649
It's not back on your shoulder.

175
00:06:43,673 --> 00:06:46,245
It falls out of the air,
lands right back in the hand.

176
00:06:46,269 --> 00:06:47,498
Did you see it go?

177
00:06:48,276 --> 00:06:51,670
Yeah, funny. We've got a little guy.
He's union, works up there all day.

178
00:06:51,694 --> 00:06:54,845
If I do it slowly it goes straight away,
it lands by your pocket.

179
00:06:54,869 --> 00:06:56,122
Is it in this pocket, sir?

180
00:06:56,146 --> 00:06:58,599
Don't reach in your pocket.
That's a different show.

181
00:06:58,623 --> 00:06:59,693
(Squeaking)

182
00:06:59,717 --> 00:07:02,061
That's rather strange.
They have shots for that.

183
00:07:02,085 --> 00:07:04,576
Can I show them? Rather bizarre.
Is this yours, sir?

184
00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,653
I have no idea how that works.
We'll send that over there.

185
00:07:07,677 --> 00:07:09,050
I need help with this one.

186
00:07:09,074 --> 00:07:10,343
Step over this way for me.

187
00:07:10,367 --> 00:07:13,215
Don't run away. You had something
down by your pants pocket.

188
00:07:13,239 --> 00:07:15,492
I was checking mine.
I couldn't find everything,

189
00:07:15,516 --> 00:07:17,290
but I noticed you had something here.

190
00:07:17,314 --> 00:07:19,188
Can I feel the outside for a moment?

191
00:07:19,212 --> 00:07:21,974
Down here I noticed this.
Is this something of yours, sir?

192
00:07:22,450 --> 00:07:24,010
I have no idea. That's a shrimp.

193
00:07:24,034 --> 00:07:26,136
J: Yeah. I'm saving it for later.

194
00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,184
AR: You've entertained
all of these people in a wonderful way,

195
00:07:29,208 --> 00:07:30,358
better than you know.

196
00:07:30,382 --> 00:07:33,401
So we'd love to give you this
lovely watch as a gift.

197
00:07:33,425 --> 00:07:34,426
(Laughter)

198
00:07:34,450 --> 00:07:35,948
Hopefully it matches his taste.

199
00:07:35,972 --> 00:07:37,635
We have a couple of other things,

200
00:07:37,659 --> 00:07:38,916
a little bit of cash.

201
00:07:39,373 --> 00:07:40,858
And we have a few other things,

202
00:07:40,882 --> 00:07:42,048
these all belong to you,

203
00:07:42,072 --> 00:07:44,750
along with a big round of applause
from all your friends.

204
00:07:44,774 --> 00:07:45,781
(Applause)

205
00:07:45,805 --> 00:07:47,011
Joe, thank you very much.

206
00:07:47,035 --> 00:07:49,968
(Applause)

207
00:07:51,913 --> 00:07:53,093
(Applause ends)

208
00:07:53,934 --> 00:07:56,584
So, same question I asked you before,

209
00:07:56,608 --> 00:07:58,936
but this time you don't have
to close your eyes.

210
00:07:59,866 --> 00:08:01,141
What am I wearing?

211
00:08:01,611 --> 00:08:02,762
Audience: Oh!

212
00:08:02,786 --> 00:08:04,715
(Laughter)

213
00:08:04,739 --> 00:08:07,538
(Hesitant applause)

214
00:08:09,522 --> 00:08:10,950
(Applause ends)

215
00:08:10,974 --> 00:08:12,875
Attention is a powerful thing.

216
00:08:12,899 --> 00:08:15,384
Like I said, it shapes your reality.

217
00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:18,295
So, I guess I'd like to pose
that question to you.

218
00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:20,461
If you could control somebody's attention,

219
00:08:20,485 --> 00:08:21,756
what would you do with it?

220
00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:23,759
Thank you.

221
00:08:23,783 --> 00:08:29,992
(Applause)