About
WikiTest is a professional-grade mentalism iPhone app created by Marc Kerstein that enables performers to execute what many consider the ultimate modern book test. Using Wikipedia as the 'book' and the spectator's own borrowed smartphone as the prop, the performer can reveal a word the spectator secretly focused on from any article — a feat that appears genuinely impossible given the billions of words available on Wikipedia. The effect unfolds naturally: the spectator Googles Wikipedia statistics themselves, then freely searches any topic and focuses on any word within the article. The performer never touches the spectator's phone yet announces the chosen word with stunning accuracy. The app is meticulously designed to conceal its method in plain sight, offering several performance routines with one clearly optimal approach. WikiTest comes with written instructions and links to curated performance references. It requires minimal props beyond the performer's own iPhone and works in any setting — close-up, stage, or street — with no angle concerns. The learning curve is low, and the effect becomes even more powerful with practice. At $65 on the iTunes App Store, WikiTest represents a premium investment that professional and semi-professional entertainers overwhelmingly consider worthwhile. It has earned nomination for Trick of the Year from the magic community and has left real spectators genuinely questioning whether the performer can truly read minds.
Key Features
- Wikipedia Mindreading Effect: Reveal any word a spectator silently focuses on from any Wikipedia article, out of billions of possible words.
- No Touch Required: The entire effect is performed without the performer ever handling the spectator's own borrowed smartphone.
- Multiple Performance Routines: Several methods are included for structuring the performance, with one clearly superior approach highlighted.
- Concealed Method: The app cleverly hides its technical mechanism in plain sight, making the effect appear genuinely impossible.
- Written Instructions & Performance References: Comes with easy-to-follow written instructions and links to curated real-world performance footage for study.
Use Cases
- Close-up mentalism at private parties, restaurants, or corporate events where a borrowed phone makes the effect feel spontaneous and unplanned.
- Stage mentalism shows requiring a show-stopping climax that leaves an entire audience speechless.
- Street magic performances where using a stranger's own smartphone maximizes the sense of impossibility.
- Building a reputation as a professional mentalist with a reliable, repeatable signature effect that travels in your pocket at all times.
- Corporate entertainment bookings where a clean, technology-themed mindreading effect resonates with modern business audiences.
Pros
- Extraordinarily Convincing: Spectators routinely and sincerely ask performers whether they can truly read minds — a rare reaction in mentalism.
- No Special Props Needed: Uses only the spectator's own smartphone and the performer's iPhone, making it ideal for impromptu performances anywhere.
- No Angle Problems: Can be performed in virtually any physical setting without worrying about sight lines exposing the method.
- Grows Stronger with Practice: The more comfortable the performer becomes with the method, the more natural and devastating the effect appears.
Cons
- High Price for a Single Effect: At $65, WikiTest is a significant financial commitment for one trick, which may deter hobbyists or beginners.
- Limited Video Tutorials: Instructions are primarily text-based; the lack of video walkthroughs for the technical setup leaves some questions unanswered.
- Requires Audience Management: Some coordination is needed at the start of the effect to ensure the spectator follows the correct steps without raising suspicion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does WikiTest cost?
WikiTest is available on the iTunes App Store for $65 as a one-time purchase.
Does the spectator have to hand over their phone?
No. The entire effect is designed so the performer never needs to touch the spectator's smartphone, making it even more convincing.
Is WikiTest hard to learn?
The effect is relatively easy to learn. The method is straightforward once understood, and performance quality improves naturally with repetition.
What device does WikiTest require?
WikiTest is an iPhone app. The spectator can use any smartphone capable of browsing Wikipedia, while the performer uses their own iPhone running the WikiTest app.
Does WikiTest work in any performance environment?
Yes. WikiTest has no significant angle concerns and works equally well in close-up, parlor, stage, and street magic contexts.
