Jeff Crowell
Paranormal Annoyance
It was mentioned on a couple recent episodes that there are some iPhone (and Droid) apps out there that claim to be ghost detectors or EVP recorders. I few things seriously bug me about these apps and, being a paranormal investigator more on the ghost hunting side, take a bit of offense to any serious discussion regarding these apps.
First is the fact that the apps make the claim they can detect EMF fields and record EVP. I dispute the EMF claim on the grounds that an iPhone doesn't have the capability to detect electronic signal outside the range of cellular and wifi technologies. The magnetic portion of the detection 'may' be possible if the iPhone is capable of detecting magnetic distortion like a compass, but even then, using a compass as a paranormal investigation tool is seriously debated and rarely given credit. Based on that, the EMF detection claim is bunk in my opinion.
And EVP? The microphones on the smart phones are meant to be used at very close distance, (Hello, it's a phone. How far to you keep the phone when you're talking into the mic?). The ghost would have to be right on top of you to be recorded.
Bottom line is this; we're back to the same old argument in that equipment is being used for paranormal detection in ways it was never intended, and when you scrutinize the quality of detection by that equipment, you find that it comes up short in many ways. The iPhone and Droid are simply not built to detect EMF or equipped to sufficiently record EVP. These ghost detector/hunter apps are fun, I'll admit, but they're for entertainment purposes only and serve no true purpose in the field of paranormal investigation.
My 2 cents.
First is the fact that the apps make the claim they can detect EMF fields and record EVP. I dispute the EMF claim on the grounds that an iPhone doesn't have the capability to detect electronic signal outside the range of cellular and wifi technologies. The magnetic portion of the detection 'may' be possible if the iPhone is capable of detecting magnetic distortion like a compass, but even then, using a compass as a paranormal investigation tool is seriously debated and rarely given credit. Based on that, the EMF detection claim is bunk in my opinion.
And EVP? The microphones on the smart phones are meant to be used at very close distance, (Hello, it's a phone. How far to you keep the phone when you're talking into the mic?). The ghost would have to be right on top of you to be recorded.
Bottom line is this; we're back to the same old argument in that equipment is being used for paranormal detection in ways it was never intended, and when you scrutinize the quality of detection by that equipment, you find that it comes up short in many ways. The iPhone and Droid are simply not built to detect EMF or equipped to sufficiently record EVP. These ghost detector/hunter apps are fun, I'll admit, but they're for entertainment purposes only and serve no true purpose in the field of paranormal investigation.
My 2 cents.
