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> and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand

Given that most people cannot move their ring finger independently of their middle finger, this seems like a stretch.



Came here to comment on binary finger counting; found it'd already been said!

I have trouble with some positions due to the ring/pinkie connection, but for me it's more of an internal count anyway, so something like counting a 'down' finger as '1' instead of '0' makes it a lot more comfortable, or even '1' is finger touching a surface, '0' is not - which can involve moving a digit only a few mm or so.

The 1023 thing does require fine motor control of at least ten appendages, though even legs-arms-tongue gets you to 32, if a bit inconveniently.


Having just finished my commute home, I'm sorry the converse isn't true.


Try it. It works.


People’s anatomy differ, and with that also how easy it is to move these digits independently. See for example the answer to this question: https://biology.stackexchange.com/q/60075


Apologies, I didn’t realise people struggled to this extent. I’ve taught many people to count this way and not encountered anybody who struggled, but it was ableist of me to assume that was universal.


I've tried it. It doesn't work.


I personally can't bend my pinkie without bending the ring finger, not the middle finger.


Number 14 (pinky touching thumb, others raised) doesn't work for me. It hurts a lot.




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