"Puzzling skills" from Yahoo.com

[Questioninggeller]

On the Yahoo.com homepage there is a link to a video that asks Can this guy really solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded? (http://www.yahoo.com/s/451718) Rather interesting yahoo has given this trick more coverage, size proportion wise, on their front page then the news articles.

[Brown]

Could it be what it purports to be? Sure it could.

But I'm skeptical about it.

The reviews that I read make no mention of two principles that might be--and some would probably say definitely are--at work here.

[Garrette]

I'm with Brown. I don't see anything outrageous in the idea of someone determining the necessary moves, memorizing them, and then performing them when (effectively) blindfolded.

But this video was not convincing in that it didn't rule out other possibilities. I can think of one of the principles Brown refers to, and another which may or may not be the same as his second.

Conclusion: Possibly real, probably not.

[Brown]

Let me be a little more specific about the principles that I think may be at work.

The first is that many cube solvers use a standard set of memorized moves to achieve a particular result, say, moving one cube to a particular spot with a particular orientation. These memorized moves CAN be performed quickly and without need for eyesight. In addition, many of these moves seem to be extremely complex, but to the solver, they are routine and are done entirely by "feel."

The second is that people who wear blindfolds can peek. There are literally dozens of ways to peek from behind a blindfold, but the secrets used by those who peek are beyond the scope of this thread. (At TAM2, Mr. Randi used volunteers to demonstrate that it is difficult to have an ordinary blindfold that prevents peeking.)

In other words, the solver doesn't need to see the Rubik's cube all the time to solve it. He only needs to glimpse it from time to time to check the status of his solving it. After the glimpse, he decides what intermediate result he wants, executes a series of pre-planned moves by "feel," then glimpses at the cube again to see what intermediate result to pursue next.

Of course, there are computer programs that can solve a Rubik's cube without having to check the status of the cube from time to time. There is no reason--other than the degree of mental discipline required--why a person couldn't employ a similar algorithm and execute it without use of eyesight.

But as I said, I'm skeptical that this is what happened in the video. There are too many pauses between series of moves, and too many possibilities to peek.

[Garrette]

Hooray for me! Seeing-while-blindfolded is the first principle I thought of, and fairly obvious from the video. I did not know, but guessed that he only needed to check his progress occasionally as opposed to seeing it continuously based on his motions.

My second, not-so-sure principle was that of a set of moves that would work regardless of the initial mix. My hesitation was in considering if the cube started from a solved position and the solver applied the set moves. Would it end up back in a solved position? I had/have a hard time thinking so.

A third principle/method that occurred to me after I wrote my earlier post was that of tactile differences between different color cube faces. A few times, he stops and appears to feel around on the cube. This is a different version of peeking, I suppose.

[Azrael 5]

Why is this in here? Is it a purported trick?

[BPScooter]

I'd be curious what the other explanations are--the spirits guided him with second sight, or he has chromo-tactile senses yet to be explored by science, etc., or the predestined will of deity led him to be really lucky. Well, you can't rule all that out, can you?? (snotty attitude feigned for laughs)

[Garrette]

Why is this in here? Is it a purported trick?I don't know why it was originally posted here, but I have seen a version of this done as a trick. It was a month or two ago, a special with an Irish magician. He had a rubik's cube and gave another to the spectator. They each put theirs behind their backs, gave it whatever twists they wanted (I think the same number for each but can't remember with certainty), and brought them out.

The cubes weren't solved, but they did have the same pattern on each face.

My guess is mechanical (mathematical may be a better word), assuming the spectator wasn't a stooge.

[deBergerac]

The moment I get behind a better computer I will watch the video. But it is a nice coincidence that I saw a trick done with a Rubik's cube in my magic club this Tuesday.

No peeking and the cube could be solved in only a few seconds, but of course it is more impressive if you work on it for some time.