So they say this kind of thing is “new”, but I think what they really mean is that it’s “new” to public knowledge. It uses thermal imaging technology, something that’s been around for a while already, and it just seems impossible to believe that “scientists” wouldn’t have thought of it before.

Either way, apparently it is able to detect our “lies” just by watching our faces for subtle changes in emotion as we speak.

The system uses a simple video camera, a high-resolution thermal imaging sensor and a bunch of algorithms as it makes its mind up about whether you’re speaking nonsense or not.

The problem: it’s definitely not accurate all of the time, and according to lead researcher, Professor Hassan Ugail from Bradford University, it’s only right two-thirds of the time. So that’s great.

Basically, the device relies on years of research into how we all unconsciously and involuntarily reveal our emotions through delicate changes of expression and the flow of blood to our skin.

That’s where the thermal part comes in: little sweat beads and temperature changes in the facial area reveal changes in emotions, and thus, whether or not a person might be fibbing or not.

So, if you furrow your brow in a certain way, the camera will notice, and it then processes this and makes an “informed” decision.

Professor Ugail explains:

We bring together all this well-established work on expressions, these recent developments in thermal imaging, techniques for image tracking of subjects and our new algorithms into one operational system.

The system has only been tested on willing volunteers so far – and they may have manipulated findings because they may not actually have been lying – but it will probably be used in UK airports alongside experienced immigration officers later this year, and just maybe, produce better results than two-thirds.

Prof Ugail is confident accuracy will therefore increase: “In a real, high-stress situation, we might get an even higher success rate,” – up to 90 percent he reckons.

Humans give away the majority of our emotions in our eye movements, dilating pupils, biting or pressing together our lips, wrinkling our noses, breathing heavily, swallowing, blinking strangely and changing our facial asymmetry: this is the technology’s strength.

[Source: BBC]