Well that's what the doctor says now but in 2008 he said it was to detect smugglers and drug dealers. l shall write to Dr Agail and suggest he try it out on the HMRC/UKBA officers first and then publish the results. Then maybe he could try it out at the House of Commons? .... loads of subjects there for him!
How does it work? ‘When a person is being deceitful, when a person lies, there is increased brain activity and this is reflected in the face through involuntary facial expressions and blood flow,’ said Prof Ugail.
Humans were known to have a limited repertoire of around 46 facial expressions, known as Facial Action Units, he said.
These were used when programming the software for the facial lie detector.
The thermal camera focused on the region around the eye because the skin is thinner there, making its temperature changes easier to spot. The camera was capable of detecting a warming in the face of 0.1C.
The Prof also things that our wonderfully truthful and honest HMRC/UKBA Officers are "very good at spotting people carrying contraband and analysing facial expressions" (2008) but by 2011 he thinks "Border Control Officers are very good at spotting liars!" Prof you should be a comedian. No, l retract that ... you are one!
Our good Prof then goes on to say that he hopes to develop his equipment to detect Alzeimers and dementia. Back to testing it out on HMRC/UKBA Officers and the House of Commons then Prof? :)
He can't make his mind up what its for but he did get £500k to research it! Wants money off Home Office now!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's at all affected by people with a very good poker face and people who tend to feel guilty about things they only thought of doing. For that matter I wonder if it's any good with stroke victims and people who've had a lot of botox.
ReplyDeletea 1 in 3 failure rate? ffs it's bloody useless!
ReplyDeleteTossing a coin is 50% accurate. Cheaper too, even if they use a fresh coin every time!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly Zaphod. :)
ReplyDeleteThere is no chance that UKBA would allow an effective lie detector on their premises. Imagine the embarrassment when a Sked accidentally walks past it!
ReplyDeleteBut a fake one would be useful, especially the with override button for the red light and beeper.
It only needs a fake scientist to give it credibility.
And an uncritical media, keen to cut-and-paste free press releases without having to think.
And a copious supply of stressed, tired, irritable passengers.
Prepared wrongdoers, of course, will answer the harmless calibration questions while thinking of snakes or spiders, or whatever. Unlike cooperative student test subjects.
The stupidity of our rulers is truly staggering.
A professor who would quote accuracy figures, without specifying "false positives" or "false negatives"; is probably a professor of Ancient Norse Mythology.
ReplyDeleteA single machine-generated false positive when suspecting a cross-border shopper of smuggling is outrageous. A single false negative when looking for suicide bombers is a disaster.
A disaster for the plane, that is. But it would save the life of the security man who otherwise would have attempted to search the bomber.
Since when do the UKBA need polygraphicals?
ReplyDelete-"Have you got any tobacco?"
-"yes"
-"You are a smuggler!"
-"No, no I'm not!!"
-"You are LYING and I fancy your car"
Easy. No technology needed. A UKBA agent can ALWAYS tell a lie.
Zaphod ... just how exactly does a UKBA officer arrest a suicide bomber/shooter terrorist? :) ... and don't say 'very carefully' :)
ReplyDeleteIs this the same system the DWP were supposed to be using to zero in on lying benefit claimants?
ReplyDeleteIf so, they quickly ditched the idea.
Not same but similar. That's to say the science is unproven at best but both are useless tbh.
ReplyDeleteOff to Holland tonight...with a fistful of shining euros, a bucketful of Babylon and my SOT clutched to my breast.
ReplyDelete"Half a kilo, half a kilo, half a kilo onwards...into the Sked Shed rode..."
http://tinyurl.com/6fwe75s
Oh and I will of course be proudly wearing my badge. Just wish the t shirts were ready.
ReplyDeleteBon Voyage SBC!
ReplyDeleteOn the ferry in the INDOOR SMOKING LOUNGE which has free, if slooOOOow, WIFI! Stena prices in the 'duty free' don't seem too horrific-a little over Dutch prices to be sure but they seem well stocked with UK brands and even do a kilo (20x50g) pack of GV at 128 euros...which works out about ₤6 a 50g pouch ....if the SBC math is right.
ReplyDeleteHQ calling SBC, HQ calling SBC, come in SBC.
ReplyDelete£6 per 50g is upper limit so you doing good. You have permission to deal with Skedites anyway you choose. :)