A writing surface was made from two pieces of A4 paper taped together. It is on this sheet that the string of alpha-numeric characters would be written. This paper sheet was then glued to two sheets of A4 cardboard (also taped together) so that the cardboard pieces were like the covers of a book - they could be closed together with the paper sheet being inside and out of view. Pencilled boxes were lightly drawn on the paper as guides for the writing of single characters with a black marker pen. I called this assembly the code sheet.
A number of people were shown how to write on the code sheet by using a disposable sample (see Photo 1). They were then asked to sit at a table with the genuine code sheet - away from the other participants - and to write a specified number of characters. When they had done this they were asked to cover their written entries with a folded newspaper (see Photo 2) and to inform the next person that it was now their turn.
Photo 1. The code sheet before writing, and the sample.
I witnessed the process from a short distance without being able to see any of the written characters. At no time did any of the participants see anything other than their own characters.
When all the participants had finished, I approached the table - the code sheet now being completely covered - and closed the covers (without seeing what had been written) so that the written string was inside and out of view. I then lightly taped the ends of the covers together, and placed the code sheet in a secure place.
I had previously written on the front cover "Time Experiment code sheet" and the date when the next phase of the experiment was to take place (i.e. the 'exposure' of the string).
The participants were asked to never discuss their entries with anyone. They all agreed to strictly follow this request.
Photo 2. Writing part of the string.
The reason for having the string prepared in this way was to minimize the possibility of someone becoming aware of it because they have the ability to somehow read an individual's mind, rather than because of time-seer capabilities. If no one person - particularly me who will maintain the experiment - has knowledge of the whole string then it is less likely that this type of effect will occur. If verification of a submitted code is ever deemed necessary then a similar process will be used, i.e. no one person will ever see more than a small number of the characters on the code sheet. In this way it will be possible to use the same code for any number of submissions without severely compromising the mind-reading safeguard. Next: The 'Exposure' Phase.