Lie detection with a computer-based graphometric system

Kurzfassung

A small Hungarian business venture has developed an alternative lie detection method. It is used to assess the credibility of statements made by the person under investigation. Benefits: oral questions are answered in writing, so the person assessed does not become nervous. This technology can be used by judicial authorities and police forces but also applied in the service of private companies. The company looks for a service partner to adapt the technology to foreign local specifications.

Details

The company is mainly involved in judicial expertise, but also provides training related to lie detection, personality assessment and graphology.

The proposed handwriting-based, alternative lie-detection-method (graphometrics) provides an extensive analysis of physiological changes in the person under investigation (called 'duktor'). It assesses, with high precision and high definition, what emotional, mental and senso-motoric responses are induced, in a person's psyche, by a specific sentence. These responses, when compared with other details of the criminal investigation, lay the foundations for determining the direct truth content. During the procedure, the so-called 'triple probe' principle is applied.

The 'triple probe' method requires two distinct homogeneous groups of writing samples: One must contain demonstrably true facts, whilst the other must contain demonstrably false facts. By comparing the same characters in two samples, it is possible to determine the graphological features of false confessions. The third element to be assessed – the (incriminated) writing which serves as the basis of accusation – is subjected to the same analysis method, and then the level of conformity to the 'false - true' sample is examined. In this way, a conclusion can be drawn, based upon a specific probability level –the degree of probability of whether the responses expressed in the handwriting of the person assessed are true or false. The 'triple probe' procedure can also be applied in those special cases where it is believed that the incriminated written material has been created under pressure or threat.

This procedure may be used as a substitute for the polygraphic examination method, since it does not require any polygraphic equipment which, being considered to be military technology according to some national laws may be difficult to obtain. If necessary, the procedure can also be applied in combination with the polygraphic procedure.

The proposed method requires the use of a special writing interface (writing tablet, with paper) which is connected to a notebook computer, and, also, the proprietary software. Concerning the person being tested, the following are assessed:

- how much the pen is pressed against the paper,
- when the pen is lifted,
- how quickly the pen is moved, etc.

The equipment analyses the data collected during the test using mathematical methods (algorithms), so the conclusion drawn is based on objective factors.
In order to apply the proposed method, the consent of the person under investigation is required.

Innovative Aspects:
New features of the proposed technology:

- Lie detection is carried out based on writing.

- This procedure combines the benefits of methods already in use. From the method of polygraphic lie detection, it has borrowed the principle of assessing changes in contrast with responses to neutral questions. It has also taken the method of assessing changes in lettering from graphology.

- During polygraphic lie detection, only physiological changes (blood-pressure, pulse, respiratory-rate etc.) are assessed.

In contrast with this, the proposed technology records reactions corresponding to the content in the psyche of the person under investigation, without influencing the person’s behaviour through the use of different sensors.

Benefits of the proposed technology:

- Objective. Since one’s pulse can be influenced by yoga, or by autogenic training, the polygraph may well be deceived. In graphic expression, however, a change in writing accompanying psychical changes is the result of a higher level mental activity, and therefore writing cannot be influenced.
- Time-saving.
- Cost-efficient (no need to buy a polygraph).
- Widely available, since it is not considered being military technology unlike polygraphs.
- The digitalisation of the writing, and the computer-based evaluation, can be carried out either by writing on the interface (online assessment) or by scanning (offline assessment).
- It can be used to assess any Latin-alphabet handwriting. It is also capable of handling accents, periods, overscores and underscores, etc.