[Member Intro] Hello from the UK- hoping the cube can help my memory problems.

[conanthewarrior]

Hello everyone, I hope you are all OK.

I am 26 years old (I don't know if that is old compared to other people who do this, but I will explain my main reasons why if so), and from the UK.

I became unwell in 2014, and was taken into hospital on my 24th birthday (I know, what a great present), and unfortunately was left with some brain damage after a Status Eplilepticus seizure-that is a seizure that will not stop. Due to this, I now have problems with my memory, both short and long term.

Yesterday, I found my old Rubiks cube. I know I used to love the thing, and spent many hours and days using it. I only ever knew the beginner method if I remember correctly, and think my best solve was around 50 seconds. I know this is slow, but I was happy.

I am looking to get a new cube, as this Rubiks brand one is not too good, and also as I think it may help with my memory trying to remember the algorithms.
I was surprised that I actually could remember some! Up to the first two layers, I couldn't remember how to solve the top layer though and permeating the corners.
I have been using online guides, and am slowly getting it again, finding myself having to look less and less at the screen and just remembering the moves, which is my ultimate goal.
Going on to learn faster methods would be great too, I doubt I will ever get to a level of competitions due to my memory problems, but I still think I will have a lot of fun again, and even if it doesn't help my memory I will not of lost anything.

Anyway, hope to hear from some other people who enjoy this puzzle, and also if there are people of a similar age to talk to that would be great too to make friends.

All the best, Conan.

 

[TDM]

Hi, welcome! I'm younger than you unfortunately (18) but I know there are definitely quite a few other UK cubers a similar age to you. You don't need to be fast to go to a competition - it's not about doing well (I definitely don't come close to winning anything!), but it's a great chance to talk to other cubers.

 

[bcube]

Hello Conan,

if you want to excercise your short-term memory (I guess), I suggest you to solve the Rubik's cube while being blindfolded.

You can also excercise your long-term memory by doing a delayed execution in case of blindfolded solving, or by solving multiple cubes while blindfolded.

Not sure whether it applies to you but I am afraid sighted algorithmic solving rather exercises your finger-memory instead of brain-memory. That being said, you could try to excercise your intuition and logical reasoning instead (via intuitive sighted solving).

Whatever you will choose, have fun. Happy cubing.

 

[Rubix Cubix]

Welcome to the forums, I'm a similar age to you, I'm 24. I'm sure you'll have fun learning how to get better at the cube, most people don't go to a competition to win, just to try and beat their own personal goals I think

 

[conanthewarrior]

Hi everyone, thank you all for your replies.

@bcube , I am unsure if I would ever be able to manage that, but I will definitely give it a try sometime . I realise that after I have the algorithms memorised, it will be finger/muscle memory, but actually remembering the algorithms is still pretty good compared to how my memory was.
I still have not got the final layer and top layer down, but I am noticing I am looking less and less at the guide with each solve so am progressing slowly.

It is good to hear that people don't also go to competitions to win, but more for social reasons and to try and beat their own bests.

I speak to anyone really, my friends range from the ages of 20, to my next door neighbour who is 94. As long as people are nice, I am the same in return, although it is nice to have people a similar age to speak to as well.

 

[bcube]

I am unsure if I would ever be able to manage that, but I will definitely give it a try sometime .

Don´t be afraid of anything in advance, it´s not that hard as it looks/sounds like.

I realise that after I have the algorithms memorised, it will be finger/muscle memory, but actually remembering the algorithms is still pretty good compared to how my memory was. I still have not got the final layer and top layer down, but I am noticing I am looking less and less at the guide with each solve so am progressing slowly.

As soon as you are able to solve the cube without your cheat-sheet, you are perfectly ready to add another level and fun to it via blindfolded solving. That´s because it has very similar number of algorithms you need to memorize (plus it can be lowered in order to solve the corners (corners of a 3x3x3 can be seen as a 2x2x2 cube and using Stefan´s blindfolded method (see below), you only need to memorize 1 algorithm) or edges alone) compared to sighted beginner´s method and according to Stefan Pochmann (and others, I would say), "Anyone can solve the 3x3x3 blindfolded. At least any speedcuber ;-)" (unfortunately, his site is temporarily unavailable, so no link is provided). Since a speedcubing definition doesn´t say anything about time, I wouldn´t be surprised if even you could solve the cube while blindfolded in the future.

 

[conanthewarrior]

Hi again everyone, I hope you are all OK.

About 30 minutes ago, my Qiyi thunderclap turned up. Having only ever used a Rubiks brand cube before, I really am amazed at the difference, and am pleased I didn't need to spend a lot of money for a great working cube- the thunderclap was only £6.50!

This does make me wonder though, why exactly are Rubiks brand cubes so bad? I know we are only really talking about a £10-15 plastic toy here, but it just seems strange to me these other companies make great cubes at prices available to all ( I assume even the £3 cubes on the speedcube sites perform better than a standard rubiks cube from looking at reviews on youtube). I would of thought they would of added modifications over the years themselves.
Then again, a faster cube may feel too unstable for people just starting out- it did feel odd when first using the thunderclap but within a few minutes it was fine.

I think today will be spent trying to get faster with the beginners method, when I feel I have a good grasp on that I can move onto CFOP, but with my memory problems I am just happy to be able to solve it normally at the moment .