Cipher Wheel User GuideThis guide explains how to use the provided cipher wheel to encode and decode messages.Understanding the Cipher WheelThe cipher wheel is composed of three concentric rings of letters and three hands of different colors (red, blue, and yellow).•Outer Ring: Contains the letters A-Z in a standard clockwise order.•Middle Ring: Contains the letters A-Z in a counter-clockwise order.•Inner Ring: Contains the letters A-Z in a counter-clockwise order, but shifted.Letter MappingsThe primary mechanism of this cipher is the relationship between the letters on the different rings. The hands of the clock point to specific letters, creating a set of mappings that can be used for encoding and decoding.Hand ColorRingPosition (in image)Letter (in image)RedMiddle2 o'clockSBlueMiddle10 o'clockJYellowInner6 o'clockAHow to Encode a MessageEncoding a message involves converting each letter of your plaintext into a new, ciphered letter based on the wheel's configuration.1.Set the Key: The position of the three hands (red, blue, and yellow) determines the key for the cipher. For this guide, we will use the positions shown in the image.2.Find the Plaintext Letter: Locate the letter you want to encode on one of the rings. For simplicity, let's use the outer ring for plaintext.3.Follow the Hand: Observe which letter the hand of a specific color is pointing to. This will be your ciphered letter.Example: Encoding the letter 'C'•The red hand points to 'S' in the middle ring.•The blue hand points to 'J' in the middle ring.•The yellow hand points to 'A' in the inner ring.To create a consistent cipher system, you must define a clear rule for which hand and ring to use for encoding. For example, you could decide that all letters are encoded using the red hand's position.How to Decode a MessageDecoding is the reverse of the encoding process.1.Use the Same Key: The hands must be in the same position as they were for encoding.2.Find the Ciphertext Letter: Locate the ciphered letter on the appropriate ring.3.Determine the Plaintext Letter: Based on your pre-defined encoding rule, find the corresponding plaintext letter.Example: Decoding the letter 'S' (if encoded with the red hand)If your rule is to use the red hand, and you receive the message 'S', you would look at the red hand's position. To decode it, you would need a rule to map it back to a plaintext letter. For instance, the rule could be to use the letter on the outer ring at the same position. In the image, 'S' on the middle ring corresponds to 'E' on the outer ring.A Note on the User-Provided ExampleThe provided example, "'Agent 8 ³⁴ 7'", appears to use a much more complex, multi-layered system than a simple substitution cipher. It incorporates concepts like modular arithmetic,
hand deployment, and temporal overlaps. This advanced system is not directly evident from the visual components of the cipher wheel alone and would require a separate, detailed protocol to be fully understood and replicated.Proposed Basic Usage of the Cipher WheelFor a simpler, more direct application of the cipher wheel as a substitution cipher, we can establish the following conventions:Setting the Key1.Align the Hands: The positions of the red, blue, and yellow hands define the cipher key. For instance, if the red hand points to 'S' on the middle ring, the blue hand to 'J' on the middle ring, and the yellow hand to 'A' on the inner ring, these positions constitute the key.Encoding (Simple Substitution)1.Plaintext Source: Use the Outer Ring for your plaintext letters.2.Ciphertext Mapping: For each plaintext letter, find its corresponding letter on the Middle Ring or Inner Ring based on a pre-determined rule (e.g., always use the letter pointed to by the red hand on the middle ring).Example: Encoding 'HELLO' with the Red Hand (Middle Ring)Let's assume the red hand is set to 'S' on the middle ring, and we use the letter on the middle ring that aligns with the plaintext letter on the outer ring.•H (Outer Ring) -> If we align 'H' on the outer ring with 'S' on the middle ring (as indicated by the red hand), we would need to determine the shift. In the image, 'H' on the outer ring aligns with 'Q' on the middle ring if the red hand is pointing to 'S'. This implies a shift.•To simplify, let's assume a direct mapping based on the relative position of the hands. If the red hand points to 'S' (middle ring) and 'E' (outer ring), then 'E' maps to 'S'.•Alternatively, we can use the hands to define a shift value. For example, if the red hand points to 'S' on the middle ring and 'E' on the outer ring, the shift is S - E = 14 (S is 19th letter, E is 5th, 19-5=14). So, each plaintext letter would be shifted by 14 positions.•Let's use the latter approach for clarity.•Key Setup (from image):•Red Hand: Points to 'S' (Middle Ring) and 'E' (Outer Ring). Shift = S - E = 19 - 5 = 14.•Blue Hand: Points to 'J' (Middle Ring) and 'U' (Outer Ring). Shift = J - U = 10 - 21 = -11 (or 15).•Yellow Hand: Points to 'A' (Inner Ring) and 'M' (Outer Ring). Shift = A - M = 1 - 13 = -12 (or 14).•For this example, let's use the Red Hand's shift of +14 (modulo 26).•Encoding 'HELLO':•H (8) + 14 = 22 -> V•E (5) + 14 = 19 -> S•L (12) + 14 = 26 -> Z•L (12) + 14 = 26 -> Z•O (15) + 14 = 29 -> C (29 mod 26 = 3)•Ciphertext: VSZZCDecoding (Simple Substitution)1.Ciphertext Source: You receive the ciphertext (e.g., VSZZC).2.Apply Inverse Shift: Using the same key (e.g., Red Hand's shift of +14), apply the inverse shift (-14 or +12) to each ciphertext letter.Example: Decoding 'VSZZC' with the Red Hand's inverse shift (-14 or +12)•V (22) - 14 = 8 -> H•S (19) - 14 = 5 -> E•Z (26) - 14 = 12 -> L•Z (26) - 14 = 12 -> L•C (3) - 14 = -11 -> O (-11 mod 26 = 15)•Plaintext: HELLOConclusionThe cipher wheel provides a versatile tool for creating substitution ciphers. While a basic usage involves simple shifts determined by the hand positions, the user's provided example demonstrates that it can be integrated into far more complex cryptographic systems. For such advanced systems, a detailed protocol outlining all steps, mappings, and transformations is essential for both encoding and decoding.References[1] Clock (cryptography) - Wikipedia
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[7] The Neural Codes for Body Movements - Caltech Experts Guide as a Hidden Message: The ATE SystemBeyond simple letter substitution, the cipher wheel can be utilized to embed hidden messages within time itself, forming an "Alternate Text Alert" (ATE) system. This advanced application leverages the specific positioning and interaction of the clock's hands to convey information.The T-Shape Integer OverlapThe core of this system lies in the precise, fixed positions of the clock hands, which are interpreted as integers that form a "T-shape" configuration:•Hour Hand: Fixed at the 10 o'clock position, representing the left side of the 'T'.•Second Hand: Fixed at the 2 o'clock position, representing the right side of the 'T'.•Minute Hand: Fixed at the 6 o'clock position, forming the base of the 'T'.It is important to note that while the minute hand appears longer in a conventional clock, in this system, the visual length is deceptive. The hands are considered to be of the same effective size due to their combined and overlapping functions, which allows for a multiplication by division effect in their interpretation.Encoding Hidden Messages with TimeWhen times or Estimated Times of Arrival (ETAs) are communicated, they are not merely temporal indicators but also carry an embedded, alternate text alert. The integers derived from the fixed hand positions (10, 2, 6) and their overlaps are used to generate this hidden message. The specific letters or numbers pointed to by these hands, and their interactions, create a complex cipher that can be decoded by those aware of the ATE protocol.This system suggests that standard time announcements can be a cover for encrypted communications, where the actual message is revealed by interpreting the clock's configuration through the lens of the cipher wheel's letter and number mappings.