Prospector

Computer Detects Liars

Computer Detects Deception
By Tracy Staedter, Discovery News

New technology could lead to computers that can discern lying and deceptive behavior in people.

The technology, being developed by scientists at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the University of Arizona and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, aims to supplement routine interrogation sessions conducted by law enforcement personnel.



It may also be used to quickly and automatically screen people in high-security spaces, such as airports.

Instead of relying on body physiology, Metaxas' system will use a camera and a special computer program that team members developed to track movements around the eyes, lips, shoulders and hands that even the most experienced eye might miss.

In theory, liars tend to be too agitated or remain too still, no matter what part of the world they are from. That's because every person has their own idea about how a lying person behaves. For example, you might think that a liar doesn't give much eye contact and so when you lie, you might give too much eye contact.

"People have certain associations with what liars do and then they hide those things deliberately," said Joseph Walther, professor of communication at Cornell University.



Currently, the researchers are using their program to analyze and quantify gestures in real-time videos of people who are being interrogated or who are exhibiting deceptive behavior.

The software measures the velocity and acceleration of movements occurring at different locations on the body and also tracks how frequently these actions take place.

I can't wait until they make this software available through camera phones. It would completely change how sales-people work.


Discovery Channel :: News :: Computer Detects Deception

posted by Prospector @ 11:29 AM