> On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, den Otter wrote:
>
> [...]
> > This sounds like fun, assuming that the thing actually works. Any
> ideas?
>
> I think if it really works there will soon be speech modulators which one
> can install in one's phone (say), which will either distort your voice so
> that the other side can't actually trust the Truster's judgement :-) or
> modulate it so that the Truster is convinced you are saying the truth (by
> using the analyzing algorithm against it).
Could be, but then again the next generation Truster would probably have
something to compensate for this, which of course would result in even better
countermeasures etc, ad infinitum. For the time being at least you'll have an
edge over more than 99% of the people on the phone.
Besides, the system doesn't have to be used (only) over the phone; it can also
be used to test someone face-tot-face. Put the CD-ROM in your laptop and you
have a portable lie detector. Very useful for business deals and to check the
honesty of friends, lovers, family members, folks on the radio & TV etc, and
great fun at parties ;-)
> Btw, I don't see what's so funny about it ...
Use your imagination, man! The sky is the limit ;-)
How about a _real_ game of "truth or dare", for example...
And if not funny, then at least very useful. The mere presence
of a lie detector often makes people confess. Btw, small
cameras & microphones in your house, (possibly linked to motion
detectors) and on/in your clothing can be extremely useful too in
the fight against all kinds of injustice. Empowerment trough
technology, very transhuman indeed.
P.s: no, I'm not a salesman ;-)