No lie: voice stress analysis on iPhone

Wow, a lie detector that's even more inaccurate than a traditional polygraph machine. The truth is, lie detectors are pretty much BS science. The deeper you look into them, the more that the flaws are revealed. A polygraph measures, essentially, discomfort. Being embarrassed about a question or worried that the machine will register a true statement as a falsehood can give a positive, whereas a practiced, rehearsed lie can return a negative. Ultimately, they're only somewhat more accurate than flipping a coin.

I just assume everyone is lying. It's easier that way.

No, it shouldn't be relied on at all. These are just estimates and have no guarantee to be accurate. And just so everyone knows, it is impossible to truly detect lies.

Just last week, one of those lightweight what's-new-in-science shows on the Discovery Channel had a lightweight demonstration of this technology using much more sophisticated computers than an iPhone, and a trained person interpreting the results. Frankly it wasn't very accurate in telling if the host was being dishonest or not. This doesn't instill much confidence in the technology, especially in the hands of the average geek with an iPhone.

Personally, I don't even trust the results of a traditional lie detector test based on my own personal results of having one used on me, and those of a friend as well:

My friend applied for a job and was hooked to a polygraph. He failed the test when they asked him if he had ever stolen from his employer. If you knew this guy, you'd know he wasn't capable of theft. He challenged the polygrapher to question him further and find out what he had allegedly stolen. They never did, but he got the job anyways.

My own personal experience was much more disturbing. I was accused of a serious crime. The police polygrapher accused me of being dishonest on just one particular question and the cops were convinced I'd done it. A week later, my attorney hired a private polygrapher, and I did not register negatively on the same question, but a new question I did. My attorney even said he could see the emotional response to the question on my face when it was asked. I assure you, I did not do the crime, or anything even close to it. As an anonymous poster here, there's no reason for me to lie about it.

All these technologies do is measure an emotional response to a question. If the question offends you, you will have a response, whether you are being dishonest in the answer or not.

I will never trust a polygraph; and I will never take one again based on my experience.

Still, this app, for $0.99 would have been a fun toy, but $7.99 for a toy that won't be trustworthy, forget it.

In the UK they've started using this technology on people who make insurance claims and they're thinking of using it on people who claim benefits. I kid you not.

"Gitmo"?

Oh! There's a link!

Thanks, TUAW!

been using an app like this for quite a while now called lie detector. it works pretty well but after a few goes i was able to figure out the technique behind it. just think of the question you are being asked as something else. so if you're wife is asking you if you did cheat on her, just convince yourself she's asking about the laundry. if you're convinced its a different question, you don't lie and the detector can't tell the difference.

A lie detector of any sort, including this one, cannot detect a falsehood that person believes is true. So if a person truly believes that a certain interpersonal interaction did not constitute a sex act, then if they were asked if they had sex and denied it, that would show up as true. If they were later convinced that that sort of conduct does constitute a sex act, then the same assertion would show up as a lie.

All a lie detector could possibly detect is deception, not falsehood.