Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 20:21:21 02/17/04
Go up one level in this thread
On February 17, 2004 at 21:54:23, Duncan Roberts wrote: >would any chess programmers like to brain fingerprint a gm while playing chess >to see how he makes his decisions ? > Yes, but nobody knows how to do it. Charting electrical activity doesn't say a thing about how/what the brain is actually doing... > >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3495433.stm > >Brain fingerprints under scrutiny > >By Becky McCall >in Seattle > > > >The technique relies on electrical signals in the brain >A controversial technique for identifying a criminal mind using involuntary >brainwaves that could reveal guilt or innocence is about to take centre stage in >a last-chance court appeal against a death-row conviction in the US. >The technique, called "brain fingerprinting", has already been tested by the FBI >and has now become part of the key evidence to overturn the murder conviction of >Jimmy Ray Slaughter who is facing execution in Oklahoma. > >Brain Fingerprinting, developed by Dr Larry Farwell, chief scientist and founder >of Brain Fingerprinting Laboratories, is a method of reading the brain's >involuntary electrical activity in response to a subject being shown certain >images relating to a crime. > >Unlike the polygraph or lie detector to which it is often compared, the accuracy >of this technology lies in its ability to pick up the electrical signal, known >as a p300 wave, before the suspect has time to affect the output. > >"It is highly scientific, brain fingerprinting doesn't have anything to do with >the emotions, whether a person is sweating or not; it simply detects >scientifically if that information is stored in the brain," says Dr Farwell. > >"It doesn't depend upon the subjective interpretation of the person conducting >the test. The computer monitors the information and comes up with information >present or information absent." > > brain fingerprinting doesn't have anything to do with the emotions, whether a >person is sweating or not; it simply detects scientifically if that information >is stored in the brain > >Dr Larry Farwell >Brain fingerprinting is admissible in court for use in identifying or >exonerating individuals in the US. > >Maximum security > >A few days ago Dr Farwell ran the test on Jimmy Ray Slaughter at the maximum >security state prison in Oklahoma. > >A jury convicted Slaughter of shooting, stabbing and mutilating his former >girlfriend, Melody Wuertz, and of shooting to death their eleven-month >old-daughter, Jessica. > >The crimes for which he is sentenced to death took place in a house that he is >very familiar with. The results were revealing. > >"Jimmy Ray Slaughter did not know where in the house the murder took place; he >didn't know where the mother's body was lying or what was on her clothing at the >time of death - a salient fact in the case," says Dr Farwell. > >During the test, the suspect wears a headband equipped with sensors to measure >activity in response to recognition of an image relating to the crime - for >example, a murder weapon or possibly a code word in the case of a spy. > > >Dr Farwell claims some tests were 100% accurate >"In research with the FBI, we presented words and phrases that only an FBI agent >would know and we could tell by the brain responses who was an FBI agent and who >was not; we could do that with 100% accuracy," says Dr Farwell. > >Brain Fingerprinting has profound implications for the criminal justice system. > >Any decision relies on more than just the outcome of a forensic test such as >brain fingerprinting. However, in the light of these findings, the case for >appeal hopes that Slaughter will either be granted a pardon, clemency or a >retrial. > >Critics of brain fingerprinting believe it needs far more refinement before its >use becomes widespread and cases are won and lost on its evidence. > >Needless to say, Dr Farwell disagrees. > >"What I can say definitively from a scientific standpoint, is that Jimmy Ray >Slaughter's brain does not contain a record of some of the most salient details >about the murder for which he's been convicted and sentenced to death," says Dr >Farwell.
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.