It's time, isn't it? It's time for someone to bring all of the known devices that are used to investigate the paranormal together in a single, intuitive, graphical computer-based system. Wouldn't that be the bomb? Never mind just four cameras all being recorded to one repository with the ability to play them back at the same time. What about being able to look at one PC display and seeing the raw data from all of your devices synchronized and being replayed for your review. EMF's, audio, all videos in a single area (thermal, night vision, day, IR, etc), temperature, humidity... you name it. And it would all be synchronized so that evidence could be compared and corroborated. What would that look like? Something like this?

Sorry. Unfortunately, this system doesn't exist. It's just a mockup I did to try to lure some motivated, hungry software developer into helping me build this. I am an IT manager by day and I do have some basic experience and understanding of aspects of software development (Hello, World!), but I don't have the specific depth to pull something like this off. My experience has been on the operating system, networking, and technical support side of things. For this sort of thing, I'm just and idea man who knows what quality software looks like.

I'm still looking for takers, but in the meantime, let me take my hat off to the two technological innovators in the field of whom I'm aware.

From their website at http://www.aghost.us/:

A.G.H.O.S.T. is the most advanced technical paranormal research group in the Pacific Northwest. During paranormal investigations, our team combines hi-tech equipment with qualified psychics, research and training for successful results. We work with the basic investigative tools such as cameras (35 mm and digital), audio and video recording devices, and EMF detectors, as well as the most advanced computerized surveillance equipment including infrared motion sensor cameras. Each member of our investigation team has been thoroughly trained in their areas of responsibility. AGHOST has earned the respect of some of the most important names in the paranormal field.

We, the ghost hunters, have made it our quest to provide substantial evidence that we are not alone in the dark. What is it that goes bump in the night and gives you the feeling of being watched when you're all alone? With the work of ghost hunters today....

I first saw this group a couple of years ago on a documentary special featuring ghost hunters around the country. I don't recall the name of the program, but it was one of the ones we usually see popping up around October. I have to be honest here. When I saw how they were investigating, I was pissed. They were using a computer to capture their data. That was my idea! Ok. So it was probably also the idea of 500 other technologically-competent ghost hunters out there. They were just the first ones I saw who had actually done something with the idea.

Their system is S.P.E.C.T.R.E. My first impression was that it was a little rough. What I saw was something that looked like an EEG or an EKG. The different meters reported in and what was displayed looked like the results of a polygraph test with line graphs that spiked when something noteworthy was occurring near a meter. However rough it appeared to me at the time, it was still an idea put into action. With that part, I was thoroughly impressed. Of course, in 2006 most people (especially those who aren't techies at this level) would probably want a GUI (graphical user interface) in which to work. Something more Windows-like...

I'm disappointed as I write this because I'm researching their site and I don't see any overt references or links to information about it other than they will use it during an investigation. I fully recommend you contacting them for a sneak peek or maybe I can get a link to post later to this article, but I just don't see a presentation on it with my quick search. I'd love to include the links to check it out, so if someone has them shoot them to me and I'll update the article.

Justin's got it going on, too. ARCADIA (Analog Reading Computer Aided Digital Input Analyzer) is his baby. If you spend a few minutes reading his explanations, you'll find that he's spent a few minutes becoming an authority on the technology. Just make sure you bring a lunch. Here's a sample of what I mean from http://ghostgadgets.com/_arcadia/index_fulltext.html:

So, as stated earlier, all data is logged at a constant rate, normally around 10 hertz for logs of about an hour in length. This data can then be statistically analyzed, so things like standard deviation, Z scores, probability, etc. can be calculated for comparison between haunt and control sites. Not only that, but various forms of digital signal processing can be applied such as FIR or IIR filters to obtain virtually any kind of filtering needed. An adaptive FIR filter could be used, post-logging session, to effectively remove any mathematically predictable components if desired. Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFT's) can also be calculated to view the frequency amplitude spectrum of the data, although a faster sampling rate would be desired (at 10 hertz sampling rate, you'd only be able to analyze frequencies from 0 to 5 hertz).

It looked like the readouts were quite similar to S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s. However, I was so impressed with the detail he's put into his project that I threw him a few dollars. I'll support most anyone who looks like they're on the right track of being able to corroborate evidence captured by 2 separate sensory input devices in the same physical area.

And so on...

So here's the breakdown according to David. These folks are absolutely on the right track. Personal experiences can't be relied on as evidence. Video of someone holding a meter is nice, but you can't really revisit the data and compare it to other meters in the same room at the same time or other meters brought into the same room later under similar conditions. Data has to be captured, reviewed, compared, and reviewed again. It has to be done with control groups. And it has to be exempt from human error. That's what these folks have done.

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