Computing desk
< June 12	<< May \| June \| Jul >>	June 14 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

June 13[edit]

Library for calculating a phone number's, or generally any number's, memorability[edit]

I'm picking a new phone number. My carrier gave me a list of possible numbers to choose from. Since the list is quite large so choosing one by hand would be time consuming. Is there a Java/Python/JS library that can calculate a phone number's memorability? Here are some metrics that I'm interested in:

Number of runs of repeated digits, lengths of such runs ( 1111 )
Number and length of repeated patterns ( 121212 )
Number of unique digits (the lower the better)
Number of syllables when pronounced out loud (the lower the better)

Johnson&Johnson&Son (talk) 07:55, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

In your shoes I'd look for memorable letters! — Anecdote: when my number was ...5333, I got a lot of calls intended for ...5533. —Tamfang (talk) 08:17, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Phonewords are common for businesses but are rare for personal numbers, and since I need to put my number on my resume, using letters might be seen as unprofessional, or in the very least, unusual.Johnson&Johnson&Son (talk) 12:58, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Other past phone numbers of mine include JEDIKNT and OOHBABY, but on my résumé I put the digits. —Tamfang (talk) 08:50, 14 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Do kids actually use phone numbers still? I assumed they just click the photo in their contact list and tap call. 199.15.144.250 (talk) 11:58, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Unless OP is running a business where they want potential customers to be able to remember the phone number from a commercial or ad jingle, I'd tend to agree. The only phone numbers that I remember are mine, my wife's, and my father's. And I only remember my father's because he still uses the land line we used as kids. So, Johnson&Johnson&Son, you might want to just go with something that sounds good to you since you're likely going to be the only one who ever thinks about it. Dismas|^(talk) 12:56, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Not many people will need to remember my number, sure. But a more memorable number also has the benefit of being memorable for its owner. Johnson&Johnson&Son (talk) 13:02, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

In that case, maybe try to find a number that is just an anagram of the number that you had while growing up. That's what happened with my cell phone number. Completely by chance, I ended up with the last four digits being the same, though in a different order, from the last four of my phone number growing up. The prefix is different, of course, since I live in a different state now. Dismas|^(talk) 22:52, 13 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

... or, alternatively, choose a number that contains the digits of your birthday, or that of someone you know well. Dbfirs 07:12, 14 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The issue here is the assumption that remembering an abstract relationship between two things is easy. Instead of remembering 4 digits (since most places use very few options for the first 3 digits), the person is supposed to remember that, for no apparent reason, the 4 numbers are related to a birthday, or address, or some sort of anagram. Then, assuming that memory holds, who's birthday? What address? What order does the anagram go? Now, two difficult memories must be in place to have any chance of remembering 4 digits. In my opinion, it isn't patently "easier" to form abstract memories. For many (if not most) people, remembering 4 digits that are used frequently is easier. I remember the last four of all my phone numbers from the past (7443, 8161, 2000, and 2257) and I have a hard time remembering numbers. 199.15.144.250 (talk) 15:35, 14 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Like you, I can remember sequences of digits (including pi) just by learning them, but some people find this very difficult, whereas they can remember the dates of birthdays more easily. The association of a telephone number with a birthday seems almost effortless to many people, but perhaps not to all. Whatever works for you ... Dbfirs 08:02, 16 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]