0:00:00.586,0:00:04.298
Do you think it's possible to control someone's attention?

0:00:04.298,0:00:06.901
Even more than that,

0:00:06.901,0:00:09.417
what about predicting human behavior?

0:00:09.417,0:00:11.882
I think those are interesting ideas, if you could.

0:00:11.882,0:00:14.162
I mean, for me, that would be the perfect superpower,

0:00:14.162,0:00:16.579
actually kind of an evil way of approaching it.

0:00:16.579,0:00:19.605
But for myself, in the past, I've spent the last 20 years

0:00:19.605,0:00:23.338
studying human behavior from a rather unorthodox way:

0:00:23.338,0:00:25.371
picking pockets.

0:00:25.371,0:00:27.295
When we think of misdirection,

0:00:27.295,0:00:29.523
we think of something as looking off to the side,

0:00:29.523,0:00:31.773
when actually it's often the things that are right in front of us

0:00:31.773,0:00:33.686
that are the hardest things to see,

0:00:33.686,0:00:36.068
the things that you look at every day that you're blinded to.

0:00:36.068,0:00:38.107
For example, how many of you still have your cell phones

0:00:38.107,0:00:40.671
on you right now?

0:00:40.671,0:00:42.574
Great. Double-check.

0:00:42.574,0:00:44.408
Make sure you still have them on you.

0:00:44.408,0:00:46.389
I was doing some shopping beforehand.

0:00:46.389,0:00:48.436
Now you've looked at them probably a few times today,

0:00:48.436,0:00:50.242
but I'm going to ask you a question about them.

0:00:50.242,0:00:52.059
Without looking at your cell phone directly yet,

0:00:52.059,0:00:55.569
can you remember the icon in the bottom right corner?

0:00:55.569,0:00:58.540
Bring them out, check, and see how accurate you were.

0:01:01.155,0:01:04.275
How'd you do? Show of hands. Did we get it?

0:01:04.275,0:01:07.675
Now that you're done looking at those, close them down,

0:01:07.675,0:01:09.878
because every phone has something in common.

0:01:09.878,0:01:12.128
No matter how you organize the icons,

0:01:12.128,0:01:14.119
you still have a clock on the front.

0:01:14.119,0:01:17.099
So, without looking on your phone, what time was it?

0:01:17.099,0:01:19.473
You just looked at your clock, right?

0:01:19.473,0:01:22.725
It's an interesting idea. Now, I'll ask you take that a step further with a game of trust.

0:01:22.725,0:01:24.964
Close your eyes.

0:01:24.964,0:01:27.274
I realize I'm asking you to do that while you just heard

0:01:27.274,0:01:30.655
there's a pickpocket in the room, but close your eyes.

0:01:30.655,0:01:33.929
Now, you've been watching me for about 30 seconds.

0:01:33.929,0:01:37.389
With your eyes closed, what am I wearing?

0:01:37.389,0:01:39.163
Make your best guess.

0:01:39.163,0:01:41.898
What color is my shirt? What color is my tie?

0:01:41.898,0:01:44.262
Now open your eyes.

0:01:44.262,0:01:46.466
By a show of hands, were you right?

0:01:46.466,0:01:49.132
It's interesting, is it. Some of us are a little bit

0:01:49.132,0:01:51.197
more perceptive than others. It seems that way.

0:01:51.197,0:01:53.779
But I have a different theory about that, that model of attention.

0:01:53.779,0:01:57.414
They have fancy models of attention, Posner's trinity model of attention.

0:01:57.414,0:02:00.801
For me, I like to think of it very simple, like a surveillance system.

0:02:00.801,0:02:03.349
It's kind of like you have all these fancy sensors,

0:02:03.349,0:02:06.054
and inside your brain is a little security guard.

0:02:06.054,0:02:08.282
For me, I like to call him Frank.

0:02:08.282,0:02:10.712
So Frank is sitting at a desk.

0:02:10.712,0:02:13.010
He's got all sort of cool information in front of him,

0:02:13.010,0:02:15.257
high-tech equipment, he's got cameras,

0:02:15.257,0:02:17.572
he's got a little phone that he can pick up, listen to the ears,

0:02:17.572,0:02:20.354
all these senses, all these perceptions.

0:02:20.354,0:02:23.097
But attention is what steers your perceptions.

0:02:23.097,0:02:26.576
It's what controls your reality. It's the gateway to the mind.

0:02:26.576,0:02:29.411
If you don't attend to something, you can't be aware of it.

0:02:29.411,0:02:32.462
But ironically, you can attend to something without being aware of it.

0:02:32.462,0:02:34.564
That's why there's the cocktail effect:

0:02:34.564,0:02:37.098
when you're in a party, you're having conversations with someone,

0:02:37.098,0:02:38.997
and yet you can recognize your name

0:02:38.997,0:02:41.005
and you didn't even realize you were listening to that.

0:02:41.005,0:02:43.858
Now, for my job, I have to play with techniques to exploit this,

0:02:43.858,0:02:46.919
to play with your attention as a limited resource.

0:02:46.919,0:02:50.047
So if I could control how you spend your attention,

0:02:50.047,0:02:53.503
if I could maybe steal your attention through a distraction.

0:02:53.503,0:02:55.672
Now instead of doing it like misdirection

0:02:55.672,0:02:57.754
and throwing off to the side,

0:02:57.754,0:03:00.038
instead, what I choose to focus on is Frank,

0:03:00.038,0:03:02.503
to be able to play with the Frank inside your head,

0:03:02.503,0:03:04.506
your little security guard,

0:03:04.506,0:03:06.743
and get you, instead of focusing on your external senses,

0:03:06.743,0:03:09.365
just to go internal for a second.

0:03:09.365,0:03:12.608
So if I ask you to access a memory, like, what is that,

0:03:12.608,0:03:14.726
what just happened, do you have a wallet,

0:03:14.726,0:03:16.802
do you have an American Express in your wallet?

0:03:16.802,0:03:19.143
And when I do that, your Frank turns around.

0:03:19.143,0:03:21.890
He accesses the file. He has to rewind the tape.

0:03:21.890,0:03:24.093
And what's interesting is, he can't rewind the tape

0:03:24.093,0:03:27.198
as the same time that he's trying to process new data.

0:03:27.198,0:03:28.908
Now, I mean, this sounds like a good theory,

0:03:28.908,0:03:31.271
but I could talk for a long time and tell you lots of things,

0:03:31.271,0:03:33.611
and they may be true, a portion of them,

0:03:33.611,0:03:35.987
but I think it's better if I tried to show that to you hear live.

0:03:35.987,0:03:38.753
So if I come down, I'm going to do a little bit of shopping.

0:03:38.753,0:03:41.923
Just hold still where you are.

0:03:42.730,0:03:45.965
Hello, how are you. It's lovely to see you.

0:03:45.965,0:03:47.876
You did a wonderful job onstage.

0:03:47.876,0:03:49.970
You have a lovely watch. That doesn't come off very well.

0:03:49.970,0:03:51.928
Do you have your ring as well?

0:03:51.928,0:03:53.987
Good. Just taking inventory. You're like a buffeet.

0:03:53.987,0:03:55.985
It's hard to tell where to start, there's so many great things.

0:03:55.985,0:03:58.287
Hi, how are you. Good to see you.

0:03:58.287,0:04:00.029
Hi, sir, could you stand up for me, please? Just right where you are.

0:04:00.029,0:04:02.651
Oh, you're married, you follow directions well.

0:04:02.651,0:04:04.620
That's nice to meet you, sir.

0:04:04.620,0:04:07.376
You don't have a lot inside your pockets. Anything down by the pocket over here?

0:04:07.376,0:04:09.720
Hopefully so. Have a seat. There you go. You're doing well.

0:04:09.720,0:04:11.628
Hi, sir, how are you?

0:04:11.628,0:04:13.935
Good to see you, sir. You have a ring, a watch.

0:04:13.935,0:04:16.163
Do you have a wallet on you?

0:04:16.163,0:04:18.121
Well, we'll find one for you.

0:04:18.121,0:04:20.179
Come on up this way, Joe.

0:04:20.179,0:04:22.137
Give Joe a round of applause.

0:04:22.137,0:04:24.186
Come on up Joe. Let's play a game.

0:04:24.186,0:04:26.637
(Applause)

0:04:26.637,0:04:28.535
Pardon me.

0:04:28.535,0:04:30.928
I don't think I need this clicker anymore. You can have that.

0:04:30.928,0:04:32.803
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

0:04:32.803,0:04:34.963
Come on up to the stage, Joe. Let's play a little game.

0:04:34.963,0:04:37.337
Now do you have anything in your front pockets?

0:04:37.337,0:04:39.531
Money. All right, let's try that.

0:04:39.531,0:04:42.767
Can you stand right over this way for me?

0:04:42.767,0:04:44.950
Turn around and, let's see,

0:04:44.950,0:04:46.949
if I give you something that belongs to me,

0:04:46.949,0:04:50.212
this is just something, I have a poker chip.

0:04:50.212,0:04:52.834
Hold out your hand for me. Watch it kind of closely.

0:04:52.834,0:04:55.320
Now this is a task for you to focus on.

0:04:55.320,0:04:57.553
Now you have your money in your front pocket here?

0:04:57.553,0:05:00.197
Good. I'm not going to actually put my hand your pocket.

0:05:00.197,0:05:02.312
I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.

0:05:02.312,0:05:04.084
One time a guy had a hole in his pocket,

0:05:04.084,0:05:05.948
and that was rather traumatizing for me.

0:05:05.948,0:05:07.927
I was looking for his wallet and he gave me his phone number.

0:05:07.927,0:05:10.143
It was a big miscommunication.

0:05:10.143,0:05:12.158
So let's do this simply. Squeeze your hand.

0:05:12.158,0:05:15.206
Squeeze it tight. Do you feel the poker chip in your hand?

0:05:15.206,0:05:17.288
Would you be surprised if I could take it out of your hand.

0:05:17.288,0:05:19.230
Say yes. Good.

0:05:19.230,0:05:21.327
Open your hand. Thank you very much.

0:05:21.327,0:05:23.264
I'll cheat if you give me a chance.

0:05:23.264,0:05:25.246
Make it harder for me. Just use your hand.

0:05:25.246,0:05:27.339
Grab my wrist, but squeeze, squeeze firm.

0:05:27.339,0:05:29.431
Did you see it go?

0:05:29.431,0:05:31.399
Joe: No.[br]Apollo Robbins: No, it's not here. Open your hand.

0:05:31.399,0:05:33.169
See, while we're focused on the hand,

0:05:33.169,0:05:35.195
it's sitting on your shoulder right now.

0:05:35.195,0:05:37.032
Go ahead and take it off.

0:05:37.032,0:05:38.885
Now, let's try that again.

0:05:38.885,0:05:40.730
Hold your hand out flat. Open it up all the way.

0:05:40.730,0:05:42.965
Put your hand up a little bit higher, but watch it closer, Joe.

0:05:42.965,0:05:45.983
See, if I did it slowly, it'd be back on your shoulder.

0:05:45.983,0:05:48.010
(Laughter)

0:05:48.010,0:05:50.032
Joe, we're going to keep doing this til you catch it.

0:05:50.032,0:05:52.012
You're going to get it eventually. I have faith in you.

0:05:52.012,0:05:54.138
Squeeze firm. You're human, you're not slow.

0:05:54.138,0:05:56.400
It's back on your shoulder.

0:05:56.400,0:05:58.495
You were focused on your hand. That's why you were distracted.

0:05:58.495,0:06:01.083
While you were watching this, I couldn't quite get your watch off. It was difficult.

0:06:01.083,0:06:03.131
Yet you had something inside your front pocket.

0:06:03.131,0:06:05.009
Do you remember what it was?

0:06:05.009,0:06:06.862
Joe: Money.

0:06:06.862,0:06:09.686
AR: Check your pocket. See if it's still there. Is it still there?

0:06:09.686,0:06:11.809
Oh, that's where it was. Go ahead and put it away.

0:06:11.809,0:06:14.243
We're just shopping. This trick's more about the timing, really.

0:06:14.243,0:06:15.931
I'm going to push it inside your hand.

0:06:15.931,0:06:18.272
Put your other hand on top for me, would you?

0:06:18.272,0:06:20.476
It's amazingly obvious now, isn't it.

0:06:20.476,0:06:22.860
It looks a lot like the watch I was wearing, doesn't it?

0:06:22.860,0:06:24.920
(Laughter)

0:06:24.920,0:06:26.642
(Applause)

0:06:26.642,0:06:29.274
Joe: That's pretty good. That's pretty good.[br]AR: Oh, thanks.

0:06:29.274,0:06:32.090
But it's only a start. Let's try it again, a little bit differently.

0:06:32.090,0:06:34.426
Hold your hands together. Put your other hand on top.

0:06:34.426,0:06:36.568
Now if you're watching this little token,

0:06:36.568,0:06:39.022
this obviously has become a little target. It's like a red herring.

0:06:39.022,0:06:41.450
If we watch this kind of close, it looks like it goes away.

0:06:41.450,0:06:43.935
It's not back on your shoulder.

0:06:43.935,0:06:46.154
It falls out of the air, lands right back in the hand.

0:06:46.154,0:06:48.506
Did you see it go?

0:06:48.506,0:06:52.049
Yeah, it's funny. We've got a little guy. He's union. He works up there all day.

0:06:52.049,0:06:54.011
If I did it slowly, if it goes straightaway,

0:06:54.011,0:06:56.146
it lands down in your pocket. I believe is it in this pocket, sir?

0:06:56.146,0:06:58.171
No, don't reach in your pocket. That's a different show.

0:06:58.171,0:07:01.476
So... that's range strange. They have shots for that.

0:07:01.476,0:07:04.600
Can I show them what that is? It's rather bizarre. Is this yours, sir?

0:07:04.600,0:07:06.878
I have no idea how that works. We'll just send that over there.

0:07:06.878,0:07:08.810
That's great. I need help with this one.

0:07:08.810,0:07:11.592
Step over this way for me.

0:07:11.592,0:07:13.685
Now don't run away. You had something down by your pants pocket.

0:07:13.685,0:07:15.654
I was checking mine. I couldn't find everything,

0:07:15.654,0:07:17.499
but I noticed you had something here.

0:07:17.499,0:07:19.516
Can I feel the outside of your pocket for a moment?

0:07:19.516,0:07:22.559
Down here I noticed this. Is this something of yours, sir?

0:07:22.559,0:07:24.866
Is this? I have no idea. That's shrimp.

0:07:24.866,0:07:26.837
Joe: Yeah. I'm saving it for later.

0:07:26.837,0:07:29.208
AR: You've entertained all of these people in a wonderful way,

0:07:29.208,0:07:30.881
better than you know.

0:07:30.881,0:07:33.150
So we'd love to give you this lovely watch as a gift.

0:07:33.150,0:07:35.522
Hopefully it matches his taste.

0:07:35.522,0:07:37.569
But also, we have a couple of other things,

0:07:37.569,0:07:40.258
a little bit of a cash, and then we have a few other things.

0:07:40.258,0:07:42.183
These all belong to you,

0:07:42.183,0:07:44.127
along with a big round of applause from all your friends.

0:07:44.127,0:07:46.467
Joe, thank you very much.

0:07:46.467,0:07:52.802
(Applause)

0:07:52.802,0:07:55.618
So, same question I asked you before,

0:07:55.618,0:07:58.022
but this time you don't have to close your eyes.

0:07:58.022,0:08:01.848
What am I wearing?

0:08:01.848,0:08:04.739
(Laughter)

0:08:04.739,0:08:10.104
(Applause)

0:08:10.104,0:08:12.899
Attention is a powerful thing.

0:08:12.899,0:08:15.698
Like I said, it shapes your reality.

0:08:15.698,0:08:18.319
So, I guess I'd like to pose that question to you.

0:08:18.319,0:08:20.514
If you could control somebody's attention,

0:08:20.514,0:08:22.640
what would you do with it?

0:08:22.640,0:08:26.219
Thank you.

0:08:26.219,0:08:30.188
(Applause)