The Reason for Creating a 'Pooping Duck' in the 18th Century

The Reason for Creating a 'Pooping Duck' in the 18th Century

In the 18th century, the number of spectators attending flute performances decreased, leading Jacques de Vaucanson to create the "Pooping Duck" and the "Flute Player." The machine duck, named "Canard Digérateur," was able to make various movements similar to a real duck, such as making sounds, swimming, flapping its wings, and even drinking water, digesting food, and defecating. People have always dreamed of creating self-moving machines, and they have made efforts to realize this dream. Although different from modern AI robots, they have succeeded in creating various self-moving machines.

Jacques de Vaucanson's "Flute Player," created in the 18th century, is considered the world's first successful automaton. Made in 1738, Vaucanson's Flute Player had a device inserted into a 1.4-meter pedestal that imitated human muscles, allowing it to breathe and play the flute. It also had leather-covered fingers that effectively sealed the flute holes. This mechanical doll, which could play the flute in the same way as a real person, was able to perform 12 flute songs. Vaucanson charged three livres as an admission fee to showcase the Flute Player to the public. Although three livres was a huge amount equivalent to a laborer's weekly wages at the time, the popularity of the Flute Player was explosive.

It was later revealed that the excrement of this mechanical duck was not actual digested waste but green-dyed bread crumbs. Vaucanson's obsession with duck excrement was attributed to his suffering from an anal disease. With his reputation as the "Digesting Duck," Vaucanson gained recognition from Louis XV and became the director of the French state-owned silk factory. After becoming the director of the silk factory, Vaucanson used the technology he had used for automata to invent the world's first automatic weaving loom in 1745. However, fearing unemployment, other technicians set fire to the automatic weaving loom, and Vaucanson was threatened with retaliation if he invented a new machine until his death.

Number Sticks/Chip Heath's "The Power of Numbers: 4 Principles of Using Numbers in Storytelling" YouTube video

The cognitive circuit is very immediate and powerful, so create sticker messages that can immediately and powerfully strike our brains. That's the content. We unconsciously think that it is important to provide as much information as possible when conveying information, but that's not true. It may be more important to only talk about the essentials. We often make mistakes and overlook this aspect. It's called the curse of knowledge. When our knowledge level increases, we increase our own level, but the knowledge level of the people we want to reach may not reach that level. In that case, we need to align ourselves with their perspective, but we often make mistakes and do not do that. Number sticks are about how to create sticky messages that are attached like stickers, and the key concept is the same, but the focus is on numbers instead of language. It deals with how to appeal powerfully using numbers.

The first principle is to use numbers instead of language. Abstract vocabulary is much less reliable than numbers. We tend to use abstract language habitually, but that is not good. We need to use specific numbers. "I will do my best" does not evoke any trust or inspiration. Instead, we should say, "How can we achieve a 50% reduction in costs by a certain point?" or "How can we reduce costs from 200 million to 150 million by when?" Specific numbers are much more powerful in perception than percentages. Instead of saying "We achieved a 95% reduction in ticket sales," we can say "We used to sell 100 tickets, but now we only sell 5." Of course, a 95% reduction is noticeable, but it is even more noticeable when we explain it as a decrease from 100 to 5. Similarly, instead of saying "64% of the baby boomers get breast cancer," we can say "1 in 8 women get breast cancer." This makes it more relatable.

The second principle is to use simple numbers. This is where the content of this book begins. Don't use fractions or decimals. I don't understand fractions either. It's the same with decimals. Instead, we should use integers that are more relatable. We need to make sure that the numbers are easily understood. For example, instead of saying "2/49," which is not relatable, we can say "About 1 out of 25," or "About 1 out of 25 women." This makes it easier to understand. Similarly, "64% of women" is more relatable than "12.5% of women get breast cancer." Instead of saying "Sales have decreased by 95%," we can say "We used to sell 100 tickets, but now we only sell 5." Of course, a 95% reduction is noticeable, but it is even more noticeable when we explain it as a decrease from 100 to 5.

The third principle is to use numbers that are relatable. This means using numbers that are close to the audience's understanding. When presenting, there are several ways to use specific numbers to make it easier to appeal. For example, we can use specific numbers related to money, distance, or time. Instead of saying "4.753639 units," we can say "Almost 5." Instead of saying "95% decrease in ticket sales," we can say "We used to sell 100 tickets, but now we only sell 5." Of course, a 95% decrease is noticeable, but it is even more noticeable when we explain it as a decrease from 100 to 5. While reading the book "Number Sticks," I saw an internet advertisement for instant noodles that usually cost around 9,700 won, but they were being sold for 100 won. Instead of saying "97% discount," they used "100 won." This made it more directly relatable.

In conclusion, using numbers in storytelling and communication can have a powerful impact on the audience. By following the principles mentioned above, we can create sticky messages that effectively convey our message. To summarize, here are three actionable advice based on the content discussed:

1. Use specific numbers instead of abstract language: When conveying information, use concrete numbers to make your message more powerful and relatable.

2. Use simple numbers: Avoid fractions and decimals. Instead, use integers that are easily understood and relatable to the audience.

3. Use relatable numbers: Choose numbers that are close to the audience's understanding, such as specific amounts of money, distance, or time. This will make your message more relatable and impactful.

By incorporating these practices into your communication, you can effectively engage your audience and make your message more memorable.