(see installation instructions before unpacking DIGDEC.ZIP)
This is an unusual 'mindreading' type magic trick, implemented in batch files,
in which the computer is used to reveal a playing card selected by a spectator.
It will run on any PC compatible, although the Atari Portfolio is
recommended. I am a semi-professional magician and I came up with this
idea some time ago, but couldn't use it until the Portfolio came along
and made the whole thing more portable and practical.
The batch file implementation is messy but I couldn't get any compiled
program (either C or Pascal) to run on my Portfolio, maybe because
it has an old version of the operating system.
The effect is that you hand your Portfolio to a spectator and ask them
to name aloud ANY playing card. This is a completely free choice on the
part of the spectator. You then ask them to enter one or two words
or phrases at the keyboard. This results in the name of their chosen
card being displayed on the Portfolio screen. Note that you don't
have to touch the computer while performing this - in fact you
can stand some distance away, which is more effective.
The method is based on a simple code, in which the words or phrases entered by
the spectator, following your instructions, result in the display of the
desired card. The spectator is in fact running the batch files which lead
to the display of the card.
The following is an explanation of the code, which takes some effort to
memorise. A magician I know who was recently performing this at a Computer
Exhibition used a small 'cue card' to avoid having to memorise the code.
Some notes on memorising the code are given at the end.
The cards are divided into eight groups as follows:-
low hearts (A-7)
high hearts (8-K)
low clubs (A-7)
high clubs (8-K)
low diamonds (A-7)
high diamonds #בס⑤öåà⓪67†É9Õ0Ø2¨É④ û¢öåà⓪44øœ⓪9Õ0Ø2¨É④⑥Ñöåà╱à*42É#$⌐)¬⓪;è2⓪7¨⓪8490se typed in by the spectator selects one of the above
groups as follows:-
WORD or PHRASE Group Selected
-------------- --------------
GO high hearts
SHOW ME A TRICK low clubs
HELLO high clubs
MAGIC low diamonds
TRICK high diamonds
START low spades
BEGIN high spades
The 'low hearts' group is already selected (by default) before you begin,
so if the spectator has named one of these, the first word or phrase is
not needed. The words GO, SHOW, HELLO etc. correspond to batch filenames.
The SECOND word or phrase selects the individual card as follows:-
WORD or PHRASE CARD SELECTED
-------------- -------------
CARD ACE or EIGHT (depending whether low or high
WHICH CARD TWO or NINE group selected by previous entry)
READ MY MIND THREE or TEN
WHAT IS MY CARD ⑧º¬égףץê②ÉPפבBê⓪סTæ④ז⇩BBQÆUæHץê④UQQSâBê③ÉSQH⑤②①H⓪סTæ✓⇩BTפV✓ץê②פSæבBê④æPQ⑥H✓⇩BTעUæSâBâBòə⑨HY]əך✓ə\זם[\Hז⑧\םזə⑨Hץ⑨X§⑧]ץêז\⑨Hə⑨HףץÖזץêəÿ\ך\ז⇨B¢ÖXך\ץן\ßHזÖ]ÖX[✓əə\ז ROUP SELECTED WORD or PHRASE
-------------- --------------
low clubs SHOW ME A TRICK (low=show)
high clubs HELLO (H=Hello)
low spades START (S=Spades)
The code described in these instructions was evolved over a few weeks of trying
the effect out on people. It is easy to modify the code if you think of an
improvement, simply by changing the name of the relevant batch file.
