Would I lie to you?

Lie detectors in the age of internet telephone services

All the advances in technology have not removed some of the most basic problems which we humans have with our communications – but it seems that, one by one, the boffins are reducing the list of outstandings. Not only is technology making the act of getting in contact with other people more complicated - such as searching for contact information like someone's eMail addresses or their phone numbers - but everyday there is a new enhancement for us to contend with.

Take lying, for example. All of us do it, and quite often it’s because we are trying to be nice to the other party. You know the drill: “Yes dear. That outfit makes you look much younger!”

So what are we to do when technology intervenes and reveals what we are truly thinking?

Lie detectors are no longer the preserve of those feared secret government organisations. They’re increasingly easy for you to get hold of and use to your heart’s content. And if you’re really keen to try them out in the real world then you need look no further than the humble VoIP platform to find a ready framework into which they can be plugged.

The KishKish Lie Detector, for example, can be downloaded free as an "extra" on the popular internet phone service Skype. Check it out here.

KishKish creator, BATM, says higher sound frequencies are a telltale sign that someone is being dishonest and so it’s a relatively simple matter to add such analysis into any PC_based phone system. According to the KishKish website "What all people have in common is that their stress levels are constantly changing within their current range - changes which indicate the 'perceived jeopardy' or 'danger' of statements being made.

In its Skype implementation KishKish is activated whenever a call is placed and, before performing any assessment, the software calibrates to the normal speech patterns and stress levels of the speaker. After that, a meter can reveal real-time variations in stress level and a simple indicator turns from green to red if the software detects a "lie".

By way of illustration, the KishKish team set up a fictitious Skype user who, when called, triggers the playback of a recording of the Bill Clinton denial of him having sex with Monica Lewinsky. When Clinton says "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky", KishKish immediately reveals the increased stress levels in his voice.

Sure, to avoid legal troubles, the program automatically informs the other person their conversation is being monitored by a lie detector, but the opportunity for misuse in other circumstances is striking. So, if you’ve installed a VoIP platform on your PC, the next time you are down at the club enjoying some well-deserved relaxation when your beloved spouse rings, make sure that you at least tell them you love them – and mean it!!