DOD Developing: "The lie detector you'll never know is there"

[kpete]

The lie detector you'll never know is there
05 January 2006

THE US Department of Defense has revealed plans to develop a lie detector that can be used without the subject knowing they are being assessed. The Remote Personnel Assessment (RPA) device will also be used to pinpoint fighters hiding in a combat zone, or even to spot signs of stress that might mark someone out as a terrorist or suicide bomber.

In a call for proposals on a DoD website, contractors are being given until 13 January to suggest ways to develop the RPA, which will use microwave or laser beams reflected off a subject's skin to assess various physiological parameters without the need for wires or skin contacts. The device will train a beam on "moving and non-cooperative subjects", the DoD proposal says, and use the reflected signal to calculate their pulse, respiration rate and changes in electrical conductance, known as the "galvanic skin response". "Active combatants will in general have heart, respiratory and galvanic skin responses that are outside the norm," the website says.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18925335.800

[Straight Shooter]

1. As reliable as the current lie detector, probably.

Just more sophisticated. Impossible to account for individual physiology. Waste of taxpayers' money.

Will they dare to use it on bush during a press conference?

[hlthe2b]

2. Exactly....

We base "normal" on a bell-shaped curve of values. There are always outliers on either side that still reflect "normal."

NOt to mention the fact that certain common medications could likely foil this approach (e.g., beta blockers)

[dansolo]

13. Less, actiually

With current lie detectors, they ask baseline questions to establish the patterns of response between when someone is lying and when they tell the truth. There would be no way to provide any sort of baseline with this proposed method.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Um... I foresee a big problem...

Not just "active combatats" will have heart, respiratory, etc. responses outside the norm -- anyone in a freaking COMBAT ZONE will have those responses. Welcome to the new era of justified collateral damage.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. I guess blinking is out of the question if you also like breathing. nt.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. While I strongly oppose any such gadgets for intel use, I can see

tremendous potential for them in clinical use, with willing and informed patients. I currently assess psychological states in people (and ultimately teach them to control their own states) with all sorts of measures--GSR, skin temperature, EKG, electromyography, and especially EEG, but all of my instruments require skin hookups with electrodes & wires, thereby limiting the utility of the methods.

[papau]

8. Wouldn't at home feedback gizmo cut down on your business? They still need

coaching, interpretation of course.

But it may not be an income increasing development.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Well, I already do everything I can to get cheap instruments

into people's hands for home use. As a matter of fact, I think the wave of the future in EEG biofeedback is to lease machines to people, cutting down on clinic visits. The physiological training aspect is rather mechanical and not all that interesting. I think my time is better used in individually creating & prescribing the proper training protocols & otherwise conducting varieties of therapy that the machines can't do. Believe me, there is sufficient need so that I'm not worried about running out of work. Especially since I believe that emotional problems such as chronic fear and anger play a primary role in making people susceptible to irraitonal, self-defeating philosophies and worldviews, I tend to see this work as some sort of sacred mission.

[papau]

12. It is nice to see ones work as worthwhile - I always thought I was sent to

protect peoples monies from rich thieves both inside and outside the company I worked for - which sort of explains the 10 years and new job pattern.

I think you may have more of a shot at calming the waves than I did :-)

But it is good to feel positive about the job.

:toast:

:[)

[enki23]

6. fantasy, propaganda, political favors, or all the above.

.

[Options Remain]

7. let them perfect it

and then we bring them to press beifings etc of every politicain everywhere.

"I'm sorry Mr Senator the red flashing lights indicate that was not an entirely accurate answer. could you restate it? Maybe be a little bit more honest this time.

[hopeisaplace]

10. ROTFLMAO! Good use for this

..wouldn't that be hysterical

[salin]

9. I can see it now... adopted by HSL for airports

picking up edgy travelers who just got in a fight with their spouses over whether or not to say something to the parent of the toddler who screamed for three hours during the nonstop flight. ;-)