WEBVTT

00:00:00.586 --> 00:00:05.356
Do you think it's possible to control someone's attention?

00:00:05.356 --> 00:00:06.500
Even more than that,

00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:09.816
what about predicting human behavior?

00:00:09.816 --> 00:00:12.035
I think those are interesting ideas, if you could.

00:00:12.035 --> 00:00:14.162
I mean, for me, that would be the perfect superpower,

00:00:14.162 --> 00:00:16.579
actually kind of an evil way of approaching it.

00:00:16.579 --> 00:00:19.743
But for myself, in the past, I've spent the last 20 years

00:00:19.743 --> 00:00:23.245
studying human behavior from a rather unorthodox way:

00:00:23.245 --> 00:00:25.201
picking pockets.

00:00:25.201 --> 00:00:26.741
When we think of misdirection,

00:00:26.741 --> 00:00:29.045
we think of something as looking off to the side,

00:00:29.045 --> 00:00:31.773
when actually it's often the things that are right in front of us

00:00:31.773 --> 00:00:32.978
that are the hardest things to see,

00:00:32.978 --> 00:00:35.941
the things that you look at every day that you're blinded to.

NOTE Paragraph

00:00:35.941 --> 00:00:38.107
For example, how many of you still have your cell phones

00:00:38.107 --> 00:00:40.671
on you right now?

00:00:40.671 --> 00:00:41.912
Great. Double-check.

00:00:41.912 --> 00:00:43.238
Make sure you still have them on you.

00:00:43.238 --> 00:00:46.173
I was doing some shopping beforehand.

00:00:46.173 --> 00:00:47.974
Now you've looked at them probably a few times today,

00:00:47.974 --> 00:00:49.426
but I'm going to ask you a question about them.

00:00:49.426 --> 00:00:51.343
Without looking at your cell phone directly yet,

00:00:51.343 --> 00:00:55.784
can you remember the icon in the bottom right corner?

00:00:55.784 --> 00:00:58.540
Bring them out, check, and see how accurate you were.

00:01:01.969 --> 00:01:05.966
How'd you do? Show of hands. Did we get it?

NOTE Paragraph

00:01:05.966 --> 00:01:08.121
Now that you're done looking at those, close them down,

00:01:08.121 --> 00:01:09.878
because every phone has something in common.

00:01:09.878 --> 00:01:11.943
No matter how you organize the icons,

00:01:11.943 --> 00:01:13.703
you still have a clock on the front.

00:01:13.703 --> 00:01:17.390
So, without looking at your phone, what time was it?

00:01:17.390 --> 00:01:19.473
You just looked at your clock, right?

00:01:19.473 --> 00:01:22.909
It's an interesting idea. Now, I'll ask you to take that a step further with a game of trust.

00:01:22.909 --> 00:01:24.717
Close your eyes.

00:01:24.717 --> 00:01:27.365
I realize I'm asking you to do that while you just heard

00:01:27.365 --> 00:01:30.655
there's a pickpocket in the room, but close your eyes.

NOTE Paragraph

00:01:30.655 --> 00:01:33.929
Now, you've been watching me for about 30 seconds.

00:01:33.929 --> 00:01:37.742
With your eyes closed, what am I wearing?

00:01:37.742 --> 00:01:39.163
Make your best guess.

00:01:39.163 --> 00:01:42.528
What color is my shirt? What color is my tie?

00:01:42.528 --> 00:01:44.046
Now open your eyes.

00:01:44.046 --> 00:01:46.666
By a show of hands, were you right?

NOTE Paragraph

00:01:46.666 --> 00:01:48.885
It's interesting, isn't it? Some of us are a little bit

00:01:48.885 --> 00:01:50.888
more perceptive than others. It seems that way.

00:01:50.888 --> 00:01:53.902
But I have a different theory about that, that model of attention.

00:01:53.902 --> 00:01:57.614
They have fancy models of attention, Posner's trinity model of attention.

00:01:57.614 --> 00:02:00.801
For me, I like to think of it very simple, like a surveillance system.

00:02:00.801 --> 00:02:03.763
It's kind of like you have all these fancy sensors,

00:02:03.763 --> 00:02:06.016
and inside your brain is a little security guard.

00:02:06.016 --> 00:02:08.282
For me, I like to call him Frank.

00:02:08.282 --> 00:02:10.512
So Frank is sitting at a desk.

00:02:10.512 --> 00:02:12.730
He's got all sorts of cool information in front of him,

00:02:12.730 --> 00:02:14.749
high-tech equipment, he's got cameras,

00:02:14.749 --> 00:02:17.879
he's got a little phone that he can pick up, listen to the ears,

00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:20.354
all these senses, all these perceptions.

00:02:20.354 --> 00:02:22.923
But attention is what steers your perceptions,

00:02:22.923 --> 00:02:26.576
is what controls your reality. It's the gateway to the mind.

00:02:26.576 --> 00:02:29.411
If you don't attend to something, you can't be aware of it.

00:02:29.411 --> 00:02:32.922
But ironically, you can attend to something without being aware of it.

00:02:32.922 --> 00:02:34.409
That's why there's the cocktail effect:

00:02:34.409 --> 00:02:36.903
When you're in a party, you're having conversations with someone,

00:02:36.903 --> 00:02:38.334
and yet you can recognize your name

00:02:38.334 --> 00:02:40.915
and you didn't even realize you were listening to that.

NOTE Paragraph

00:02:40.915 --> 00:02:43.858
Now, for my job, I have to play with techniques to exploit this,

00:02:43.858 --> 00:02:46.919
to play with your attention as a limited resource.

00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:50.054
So if I could control how you spend your attention,

00:02:50.054 --> 00:02:53.087
if I could maybe steal your attention through a distraction.

00:02:53.087 --> 00:02:55.871
Now, instead of doing it like misdirection

00:02:55.871 --> 00:02:57.323
and throwing it off to the side,

00:02:57.323 --> 00:02:59.903
instead, what I choose to focus on is Frank,

00:02:59.903 --> 00:03:02.503
to be able to play with the Frank inside your head,

00:03:02.503 --> 00:03:03.443
your little security guard,

00:03:03.443 --> 00:03:06.480
and get you, instead of focusing on your external senses,

00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:09.365
just to go internal for a second.

00:03:09.365 --> 00:03:12.575
So if I ask you to access a memory, like, what is that?

00:03:12.575 --> 00:03:14.187
What just happened? Do you have a wallet?

00:03:14.187 --> 00:03:16.078
Do you have an American Express in your wallet?

00:03:16.078 --> 00:03:19.850
And when I do that, your Frank turns around.

00:03:19.850 --> 00:03:22.105
He accesses the file. He has to rewind the tape.

00:03:22.105 --> 00:03:24.268
And what's interesting is, he can't rewind the tape

00:03:24.268 --> 00:03:27.198
at the same time that he's trying to process new data.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:27.198 --> 00:03:28.553
Now, I mean, this sounds like a good theory,

00:03:28.553 --> 00:03:31.271
but I could talk for a long time and tell you lots of things,

00:03:31.271 --> 00:03:33.257
and they may be true, a portion of them,

00:03:33.257 --> 00:03:35.987
but I think it's better if I tried to show that to you here live.

00:03:35.987 --> 00:03:38.414
So if I come down, I'm going to do a little bit of shopping.

00:03:38.414 --> 00:03:41.923
Just hold still where you are.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:43.345 --> 00:03:46.211
Hello, how are you? It's lovely to see you.

00:03:46.211 --> 00:03:47.629
You did a wonderful job onstage.

00:03:47.629 --> 00:03:49.339
You have a lovely watch that doesn't come off very well.

00:03:49.339 --> 00:03:50.666
Do you have your ring as well?

00:03:50.666 --> 00:03:52.910
Good. Just taking inventory. You're like a buffet.

00:03:52.910 --> 00:03:55.492
It's hard to tell where to start, there's so many great things.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:55.492 --> 00:03:57.625
Hi, how are you? Good to see you.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:57.625 --> 00:04:00.474
Hi, sir, could you stand up for me, please? Just right where you are.

00:04:00.474 --> 00:04:02.143
Oh, you're married. You follow directions well.

00:04:02.143 --> 00:04:03.326
That's nice to meet you, sir.

00:04:03.326 --> 00:04:07.176
You don't have a whole lot inside your pockets. Anything down by the pocket over here?

00:04:07.176 --> 00:04:09.720
Hopefully so. Have a seat. There you go. You're doing well.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:09.720 --> 00:04:11.628
Hi, sir, how are you?

00:04:11.628 --> 00:04:13.658
Good to see you, sir. You have a ring, a watch.

00:04:13.658 --> 00:04:15.839
Do you have a wallet on you?
Joe: I don't.

00:04:15.839 --> 00:04:17.167
Apollo Robbins: Well, we'll find one for you.

00:04:17.167 --> 00:04:18.408
Come on up this way, Joe.

00:04:18.408 --> 00:04:19.720
Give Joe a round of applause.

00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:21.400
Come on up Joe. Let's play a game.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:21.400 --> 00:04:26.437
(Applause)

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:26.437 --> 00:04:28.535
Pardon me.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:28.535 --> 00:04:30.651
I don't think I need this clicker anymore. You can have that.

00:04:30.651 --> 00:04:32.603
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:32.603 --> 00:04:34.562
Come on up to the stage, Joe. Let's play a little game now.

00:04:34.562 --> 00:04:38.275
Do you have anything in your front pockets?
Joe: Money.

00:04:38.275 --> 00:04:40.345
AR: Money. All right, let's try that.

00:04:40.345 --> 00:04:43.059
Can you stand right over this way for me?

00:04:43.059 --> 00:04:44.457
Turn around and, let's see,

00:04:44.457 --> 00:04:46.102
if I give you something that belongs to me,

00:04:46.102 --> 00:04:50.027
this is just something I have, a poker chip.

00:04:50.027 --> 00:04:52.786
Hold out your hand for me. Watch it kind of closely.

00:04:52.786 --> 00:04:55.320
Now this is a task for you to focus on.

00:04:55.320 --> 00:04:58.152
Now you have your money in your front pocket here?
Joe: Yup.

00:04:58.152 --> 00:05:00.303
AR: Good. I'm not going to actually put my hand in your pocket.

00:05:00.303 --> 00:05:02.173
I'm not ready for that kind of commitment.

00:05:02.173 --> 00:05:03.578
One time a guy had a hole in his pocket,

00:05:03.578 --> 00:05:05.655
and that was rather traumatizing for me.

00:05:05.655 --> 00:05:07.219
I was looking for his wallet and he gave me his phone number.

00:05:07.219 --> 00:05:08.819
It was a big miscommunication.

NOTE Paragraph

00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:12.158
So let's do this simply. Squeeze your hand.

00:05:12.158 --> 00:05:15.144
Squeeze it tight. Do you feel the poker chip in your hand?
Joe: I do.

00:05:15.144 --> 00:05:17.626
AR: Would you be surprised if I could take it out of your hand? Say yes.

00:05:17.641 --> 00:05:18.829
Joe: Very. 
AR: Good.

00:05:18.829 --> 00:05:21.034
Open your hand. Thank you very much.

00:05:21.034 --> 00:05:22.679
I'll cheat if you give me a chance.

00:05:22.679 --> 00:05:24.846
Make it harder for me. Just use your hand.

00:05:24.846 --> 00:05:26.815
Grab my wrist, but squeeze, squeeze firm.

00:05:26.815 --> 00:05:28.337
Did you see it go?

00:05:28.337 --> 00:05:30.321
Joe: No.
AR: No, it's not here. Open your hand.

00:05:30.321 --> 00:05:31.737
See, while we're focused on the hand,

00:05:31.737 --> 00:05:34.933
it's sitting on your shoulder right now.

00:05:34.933 --> 00:05:36.566
Go ahead and take it off.

00:05:36.566 --> 00:05:38.038
Now, let's try that again.

00:05:38.038 --> 00:05:39.914
Hold your hand out flat. Open it up all the way.

00:05:39.914 --> 00:05:42.426
Put your hand up a little bit higher, but watch it close there, Joe.

00:05:42.426 --> 00:05:45.983
See, if I did it slowly, it'd be back on your shoulder.

00:05:45.983 --> 00:05:47.423
(Laughter)

00:05:47.423 --> 00:05:49.750
Joe, we're going to keep doing this till you catch it.

00:05:49.750 --> 00:05:51.288
You're going to get it eventually. I have faith in you.

00:05:51.288 --> 00:05:54.030
Squeeze firm. You're human, you're not slow.

00:05:54.030 --> 00:05:56.400
It's back on your shoulder.

00:05:56.400 --> 00:05:58.279
You were focused on your hand. That's why you were distracted.

00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:01.353
While you were watching this, I couldn't quite get your watch off. It was difficult.

00:06:01.353 --> 00:06:03.131
Yet you had something inside your front pocket.

00:06:03.131 --> 00:06:05.269
Do you remember what it was?

00:06:05.269 --> 00:06:06.246
Joe: Money.

00:06:06.246 --> 00:06:09.686
AR: Check your pocket. See if it's still there. Is it still there? (Laughter)

00:06:09.686 --> 00:06:11.655
Oh, that's where it was. Go ahead and put it away.

00:06:11.655 --> 00:06:14.243
We're just shopping. This trick's more about the timing, really.

00:06:14.243 --> 00:06:15.715
I'm going to try to push it inside your hand.

00:06:15.715 --> 00:06:18.748
Put your other hand on top for me, would you?

00:06:18.748 --> 00:06:20.368
It's amazingly obvious now, isn't it?

00:06:20.368 --> 00:06:22.490
It looks a lot like the watch I was wearing, doesn't it?

NOTE Paragraph

00:06:22.490 --> 00:06:24.550
(Laughter) (Applause)

NOTE Paragraph

00:06:24.550 --> 00:06:29.274
Joe: That's pretty good. That's pretty good.
AR: Oh, thanks.

00:06:29.274 --> 00:06:32.130
But it's only a start. Let's try it again, a little bit differently.

00:06:32.130 --> 00:06:34.426
Hold your hands together. Put your other hand on top.

00:06:34.426 --> 00:06:36.337
Now if you're watching this little token,

00:06:36.337 --> 00:06:39.220
this obviously has become a little target. It's like a red herring.

00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:41.573
If we watch this kind of close, it looks like it goes away.

00:06:41.573 --> 00:06:43.673
It's not back on your shoulder.

00:06:43.673 --> 00:06:46.000
It falls out of the air, lands right back in the hand.

00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.213
Did you see it go?

00:06:48.213 --> 00:06:51.566
Yeah, it's funny. We've got a little guy. He's union. He works up there all day.

00:06:51.566 --> 00:06:53.402
If I did it slowly, if it goes straightaway,

00:06:53.402 --> 00:06:56.146
it lands down by your pocket. I believe is it in this pocket, sir?

00:06:56.146 --> 00:06:58.371
No, don't reach in your pocket. That's a different show.

00:06:58.371 --> 00:07:01.476
So -- (Squeaking noise) -- that's rather strange. They have shots for that.

00:07:01.476 --> 00:07:04.600
Can I show them what that is? That's rather bizarre. Is this yours, sir?

00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:06.878
I have no idea how that works. We'll just send that over there.

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:06.878 --> 00:07:08.810
That's great. I need help with this one.

00:07:08.810 --> 00:07:10.392
Step over this way for me.

00:07:10.392 --> 00:07:13.238
Now don't run away. You had something down by your pants pocket.

00:07:13.238 --> 00:07:15.454
I was checking mine. I couldn't find everything,

00:07:15.454 --> 00:07:16.759
but I noticed you had something here.

00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:19.131
Can I feel the outside of your pocket for a moment?

00:07:19.131 --> 00:07:21.389
Down here I noticed this. Is this something of yours, sir?

00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:24.034
Is this? I have no idea. That's a shrimp.

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:24.034 --> 00:07:26.160
Joe: Yeah. I'm saving it for later.

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.208
AR: You've entertained all of these people in a wonderful way,

00:07:29.208 --> 00:07:30.373
better than you know.

00:07:30.373 --> 00:07:34.134
So we'd love to give you this lovely watch as a gift. (Laughter)

00:07:34.134 --> 00:07:35.522
Hopefully it matches his taste.

00:07:35.522 --> 00:07:37.245
But also, we have a couple of other things,

00:07:37.245 --> 00:07:40.488
a little bit of cash, and then we have a few other things.

00:07:40.488 --> 00:07:41.921
These all belong to you,

00:07:41.921 --> 00:07:44.880
along with a big round of applause from all your friends. (Applause)

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:44.880 --> 00:07:46.467
Joe, thank you very much.

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:46.467 --> 00:07:53.863
(Applause)

NOTE Paragraph

00:07:53.863 --> 00:07:56.387
So, same question I asked you before,

00:07:56.387 --> 00:07:59.403
but this time you don't have to close your eyes.

00:07:59.403 --> 00:08:01.848
What am I wearing?

NOTE Paragraph

00:08:01.848 --> 00:08:04.739
(Laughter)

NOTE Paragraph

00:08:04.739 --> 00:08:10.550
(Applause)

NOTE Paragraph

00:08:10.550 --> 00:08:12.899
Attention is a powerful thing.

00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:15.698
Like I said, it shapes your reality.

00:08:15.698 --> 00:08:18.319
So, I guess I'd like to pose that question to you.

00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.190
If you could control somebody's attention,

00:08:20.190 --> 00:08:22.409
what would you do with it?

NOTE Paragraph

00:08:22.409 --> 00:08:23.711
Thank you.

NOTE Paragraph

00:08:23.711 --> 00:08:30.188
(Applause)