Toys? Tools?
Since no reliable equipment has been designed, tested, and marketed for analyzing paranormal events, we have to rely on things available elsewhere in the marketplace. Some of the more commonly used devices are described below.
Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) Detector – This is a device that is used to measure the magnetic field created by alternating electron current, as well as measuring varying magnetic fields. These devices are primarily made to check shielding around electrical wiring and junction boxes. They are also used to measure the magnetic radiation from electrical appliances that are powered from standard household outlets.
Read more about how EMF is used in an investigation.
[Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) - This is the magnetic field created whenever an electron moves. Most commonly found when electrons flow through a piece of wire.]
Infrared / Thermal Imaging
Infrared detects wavelengths of electromagnetic energy that the human eye cannot see – often for things like night vision, military uses, and thermal analysis. Also see thermography.
Devices that measure or display readings of infrared only work on surfaces. It cannot detect temperature changes in the air. Will it find a ghost? Probably not, but it sure looks cool!
It may find a cold spot due to a gap in your home’s insulation, however.
The same caveats apply to those ‘laser’ thermometers. They work great at a close enough range against a solid surface, but they cannot see any temperature difference in the air itself. So when you see an investigator getting all excited because he has found a ‘cold spot’ floating around the room with his LED thermometer, just giggle a little and look for the windows, water pipes, gas mains, or whatever it is that is really cold and has a thermometer aimed at it.
Photos / Video
Other pages on this blog have examples of photos that are fine for a giggle, but not much good as far as analysis of the paranormal (orbs).
Keep in mind that photos are easily faked these days, and video is also subject to cheating.
Voice Recorders
Inexpensive voice recorders suffer from a number of faults (either digital or analog). The less expensive units do not record audio in high audio fidelity. This is because of limited sampling rates. This makes it difficult for an investigator to determine if a sound is the result of somebody whispering on the investigation team, a spirit telling them to leave, or the sound of clothing swishing.
It has also been reported that some purported evidence recordings are more likely interference from radio stations (or other business telecommunications). So the odds of your ‘ghost’ singing along with Pink Floyd music on is really pretty slim.
Listen to any audio evidence presented to you carefully, and be aware that audio editing software makes audio files easy to manipulate on any computer. You might even want to ask to listen to it from the original source file on the device that recorded it, as a means of making sure it has not been tampered with.
Audio Recorders
Audio recorders are generally a higher grade of equipment than a digital voice recorder, and provide more reliable results. The same caveats apply, however.
