This is how I steal a PIN code | Timon Krause | TEDxAmsterdam

TEDx Talks

TEDx Talks

9 min, 34 sec

A detailed demonstration of mentalism illustrates the vulnerability of the human mind in the context of security.

Summary

  • The audience is engaged in a series of thought experiments to select the most unpredictable thinkers.
  • A participant, Andrew, is invited on stage to demonstrate the ease of mind-reading and its implications for security.
  • Through a series of calculated questions, the mentalist successfully deduces personal information about Andrew, including his birthdate and PIN code.
  • The act concludes with a message on the importance of safeguarding personal information, as the same techniques used for entertainment can lead to real-life vulnerabilities.

Chapter 1

Introduction to MINDGAMES

0:00 - 20 sec

The video begins with an introduction to the MINDGAMES performance.

The video begins with an introduction to the MINDGAMES performance.

  • Credits for the transcriber and reviewer are displayed.
  • Background music plays as the audience is being gathered for the show.

Chapter 2

Audience Engagement

0:21 - 1 min, 16 sec

The audience is invited to participate in an interactive segment.

The audience is invited to participate in an interactive segment.

  • The speaker invites the audience to engage in a mental exercise.
  • Participants are asked to stand and think of wild animals, colors, and geometric shapes to identify unpredictable thinkers.

Chapter 3

Selection of the Unpredictable Thinker

1:40 - 17 sec

An unpredictable thinker from the audience is chosen for a demonstration.

An unpredictable thinker from the audience is chosen for a demonstration.

  • The audience members who thought of the most common answers sit down.
  • One participant with a patterned shirt is chosen to remain standing for the mentalism demonstration.

Chapter 4

Interactive Mind Reading with the Participant

2:00 - 39 sec

The chosen participant is involved in an interactive mind-reading session.

The chosen participant is involved in an interactive mind-reading session.

  • The mentalist asks the participant to think of a number, an animal, a color, and a shape.
  • The participant's thoughts deviate from the statistically common answers, demonstrating his unpredictability.

Chapter 5

Revelation of the Participant's Thoughts

2:42 - 1 min, 12 sec

The mentalist reveals the participant's thoughts and selects another volunteer.

The mentalist reveals the participant's thoughts and selects another volunteer.

  • The participant's thoughts are revealed to be a dolphin, the color purple, and a pentagon.
  • Another participant, Andrew, is selected from the audience to join on stage.

Chapter 6

Introduction and Selection of Andrew

3:55 - 43 sec

Andrew is brought on stage for a deeper mentalism demonstration.

Andrew is brought on stage for a deeper mentalism demonstration.

  • Andrew is warmly welcomed by the audience as he joins the mentalist on stage.
  • The mentalist begins engaging Andrew in a conversation to prepare for the mind-reading demonstration.

Chapter 7

Mentalism Demonstration with Andrew

4:41 - 1 min, 6 sec

The mentalist performs an in-depth mind-reading session with Andrew.

The mentalist performs an in-depth mind-reading session with Andrew.

  • Andrew is asked about mind reading and is then subjected to a series of questions aimed at deducing his date of birth.
  • The mentalist successfully guesses Andrew's birthdate and begins to probe for his bank PIN code.

Chapter 8

Revealing Andrew's PIN Code

5:49 - 2 min, 53 sec

The mentalist attempts to reveal Andrew's bank PIN code.

The mentalist attempts to reveal Andrew's bank PIN code.

  • The mentalist uses techniques similar to a pickpocket to distract Andrew and extract the digits of his PIN code.
  • After a series of calculated guesses and psychological tactics, the mentalist successfully deduces Andrew's PIN code.

Chapter 9

Conclusion and Message on Security

8:54 - 37 sec

The video concludes with a message on the importance of safeguarding personal information.

The video concludes with a message on the importance of safeguarding personal information.

  • The mentalist emphasizes the human mind as a security vulnerability and urges caution with personal information.
  • As a final touch, the mentalist returns a wallet to Andrew, playfully suggesting he might have stolen it during the act.

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