Skype taking a stand against lying liars

If you're an avid Skype user, and you aren't entirely honest some most of the time, you should probably watch what you say from here on out. While auditory lie detectors have definitely been around, BATM is manufacturing a dedicated fib sniffer made to work specifically with Skype. The KishKish Lie Detector will be offered up as a "Skype add-on," and will reportedly analyze audio streams over a Skype conversation in real time and "illustrate the stress level" of the other person -- you know, in case you can't quite pick up the quivering on your own. Moreover, users will be able to "record calls for delayed analysis" in case you need to comb things over once you've cooled your jets. While we've got no qualms with getting down to the truth, we can't help but think this gizmo's a tad on the creepy side of things, but it's sure to please suspicious Skype users everywhere when it rolls out sometime in the future (we promise).

[Via SmartMobs]

[AndrewNeo @ Dec 15th 2006 1:22PM]

Having Skype in the title makes it sound like Skype (the company) has anything to do with this.

[Aaron @ Dec 15th 2006 1:32PM]

This is bullshit. I don't want people using lie detectors without me knowing it.

[John P. @ Dec 15th 2006 1:34PM]

Ooooh, it's like Max Headroom.

[Pete @ Dec 15th 2006 1:46PM]

How is this different than putting your Skype conversation on speakerphone (ie, using computer speakers or something) and putting a tape recorder out? Or, there's probably even easier ways to record the conversation by just grabbing whatever is coming through the soundcard, right?

[boss sauce @ Dec 15th 2006 1:47PM]

this is a telemarketer's dream come true... blech!

[Matt B @ Dec 15th 2006 2:01PM]

All sales people will stop using Skype, just in case.

[Derick @ Dec 15th 2006 3:09PM]

I, for one, welcome our truth detecting overlords

[Anonymous G @ Dec 15th 2006 3:32PM]

"Voice-stress analysis is fairly effective in identifying certain variations in stress levels in human speech, but high levels of stress do not necessarily correlate with deception," Sommers said. "It may someday be possible to refine voice-stress analysis so that it is capable of distinguishing among various sources of stress and accurately identifying those that are directly related to deception. However, all the research that I've seen thus far suggests that it's wishful thinking, at best, to suggest that current voice-stress analysis systems are capable or reliably detecting deception." ( http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/669.html )

[Lokheed @ Dec 16th 2006 12:10AM]

Wow, that has so little validity.