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12:26 pm
June 27, 2009
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Stephen
| | San Jose, CA | |
| Admin
| posts 589 |
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I've been sorely tempted to develop an iPhone application for ghost hunting. Just think of the possibilities!
- Use the iPhone compass to look for variations in the local magnetic field
- Record high-compression audio for EVPs
- There's a theory that random number generators can be influenced by psychic power, so tie a random number generator to a speech synthesizer and let the ghosts speak (similar to the Ovilus)
- Track battery levels to see if ghosts are draining power from the iPhone battery
- Track cell signal levels to see if a ghost is causing some kind of EMF disturbance
- Location-tagged photographs
- Maintaining a database of case results
- Forms for entering temperature data, personal encounters, EMF readings
- Track locations of your fellow investigators
I could probably create an app worth $30 without too much difficulty. I'd include a blurb in the README file saying that I was a skeptic, etc. to cover myself legally (and hopefully ethically).
So, two questions:
- Is this ethical? Why or why not?
- What features would you want in a ghost hunting iPhone app?
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Stephen the Friendly Skeptic
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1:02 pm
June 27, 2009
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alicat
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| Lead Investigator | posts 1215 |
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Stephen,
Don't know anything about the iPhone as I don't have one and, at this point, don't need one. I loved your idea though. Yes, I am behind the times here but I found three articles regarding ethics and and the iPhone.
http://www.ethicsscoreboard.com/list/iphone.html
http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2008/08/19/ethics-lesson-by-apple-lost-on-employment-guide/
and I thought you would enjoy this one: http://www.gotoats.org/whatis.php
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1:05 pm
June 27, 2009
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blinddog
| | Special Agent Zombie Elimination Agency | |
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Stephen, ethics? In this day?
Maybe you need to spend some time on the Appalachian Trail and do some contemplation.
Should make millions. People buy KII meters don't they?
Just don't tell them the EMF reading they are picking up is coming from their own cellphone.
They'll think they're ass deep in ghosts.
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Double tap to the head. Don't become Undead.
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1:52 am
June 28, 2009
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Revenant
| | Hopelessly Locked In A "Fear Cage" | |
| Lead Investigator | posts 1393 |
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Stephen, Paranormal State put an app out a while ago. I was going to post on it, but lost the link and forgot about it. I think the only thing it does really is act like an EMF meter:
http://www.appstore.ca/2009/01/paranormal-state-emf-meter/
As for your idea about a more well-rounded app being ethical? Well, I remember the "Pet Rock" phase. If nobody had a problem with people buying and selling rocks as pets, then buying or selling "ghost-seeking" programs shouldn't be much of a problem either.
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"Skepticism is not a position, it's a process." -Dr Michael Shermer
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9:11 am
June 28, 2009
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Learjet
| | Australia | |
| Lead Investigator | posts 1122 |
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Why not. You could make bazillions. 
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12:20 pm
June 28, 2009
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dr_peter_venkman
| | Rochester, NY | |
| Investigator | posts 99 |
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Learjet said:
Why not. You could make bazillions.
Why make bazillions when you can make millions?
Dr. Evil
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Hee hee hee! "Get her!" That was your whole plan, huh, "get her." Very scientific.
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3:41 pm
June 28, 2009
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Stephen
| | San Jose, CA | |
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I just had a look around at the iPhone Apps store and discovered a bunch of applications that use, for example, "proprietary quantum algorithms" to detect ghosts around you. The PS app Revenant is referring to is a blinky-lights app– a simulated K2, which makes it only slightly worse than the real one. So I'm decided on the ethical question– an application like I describe would be a big step forward from what's already there.
So now I just need to do it. I doubt I'll make bazillions (even metric ones), but it'd be at least fun, and I'll bet I can get invited to a bunch of paranormal conferences as the "inventor of the iCtoplasm(tm)". (Suggestions for better names will be gratefully received.)
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Stephen the Friendly Skeptic
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1:36 am
June 30, 2009
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Revenant
| | Hopelessly Locked In A "Fear Cage" | |
| Lead Investigator | posts 1393 |
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Stephen said:
So now I just need to do it. I doubt I'll make bazillions (even metric ones), but it'd be at least fun, and I'll bet I can get invited to a bunch of paranormal conferences as the "inventor of the iCtoplasm(tm)". (Suggestions for better names will be gratefully received.)
Names?
The Haunt-onator
iSeeDeadPeople
The Arcane Vault
The Esoteric Athenaeum
Phantasmic Database
Ghosts-R-Us
Shadowy Endeavors
Shadow Catcher
Ghoul-tastic!
S.K.E.P.T.I.C. (Scientific Knowledge Encapsulated Perfectly To Investigate Cases)
Disclaimer- *Not to be used in conjunction with Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Mummies, or Frankenstein's Monster*
Company name- Incorporeal Inc.
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"Skepticism is not a position, it's a process." -Dr Michael Shermer
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