A peer-reviewed journal has recently yanked a published paper from its Web site after the makers of a voice-analysis system--which is sold as a device to detect emotional stress and help ferret out liars--complained the article contained inaccuracies and defamed them.
In particular, Eriksson and Lacerda take aim at the Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) systems made by Nemesysco Ltd., of Netanya, Israel, of which they write, "The ideas on which the products are based are simply complete nonsense".
As far as concern functional results, we evaluated swallowing by a swallowing questionnaire (SQ) and voice quality (intelligibility, pleasantness and comprehension) by a computerized voice analysis (KAY CSL 4300) system.
A 2002 investigation by the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, N.Y., for example, said that voice-based lie detectors "do recognize stress through voice analysis; however, although these systems state they detect deception, it was not proven".
Voice analysis including aerodynamic measures (Phonatory Aerodynamic System; KayPENTAX, Montvale, NJ, USA), acoustic analysis, and electroglottographic analysis (EGG) (Lx speech studio program; Laryngograph Ltd., London, UK) was conducted, and voice handicap index (VHI) was examined.
Gerald Black, from Southfield, envisions a stylus or pen bearing detection technology like a fingerprint sensor, a microphone for voice recognition, a camera for facial imaging and even a cell analysis system for evaluating DNA.
This paper presents an analysis system aiming at discriminating between normal and pathological voices.
Layered voice analysis has failed in two independent tests.
So what use is voice analysis, facial scanning, sweat detection?
