J. Dillon
12-02-2005, 05:48 PM
Ever take one ? I did the other day voluntarily. Managed to tag along on a tour of the FBI facilities in New Haven CT. After going through a elementary screening where they look under the vehicle as well as in it, massive gates opened into the ground . The group had to surrender their individual drivers license in exchange for a visitor badge. We saw little of the facility but each room we passed was clearly labeled in English and brail. One agent went into and explained the extensive display of the weapons and bullet proof vests currently used by the FBI. However the most interesting event was the Polygraph machine looking much like any one sees in various movies TV etc.
The agent explained how the apparatus works and his complete faith in it and the results it gives but he cautioned the operator must relate it all to other factors and the way the questions are phrased. He asked for a volunteer subject and I stepped forward. Nothing personal will be asked just take this piece of paper write a number from one to 11 and pocket it. I did so and then was led off to the polygraph machine room behind a two way mirror just like on TV. The rest of the group could see my reactions I could only see the mirror. The agent rigged me up, three finger attachment to my digits on the left hand, to measure I think sweat. Agent X commented my fingers were callused.. The blood pressure tourniquet was rigged up next, to the right arm. and finally a band around the chest to measure breathing. Pressure was then applied to the tourniquet.
Agent X told me to answer NO to any question . He went down the line 1 to 11 then repeated the numbers randomly covering all numbers again. I answered each time "no" as instructed. My arm was well tingled with the blood cut off by the pressure machine and it was a relief when the test was over. I got off the electrified chair, what it measured I'll never know but I didn't get any jolt.
The rest of the group now assembled in the polygraph room I alone knew the #. Agent X took the graph paper from the machine and taped it to the wall for all to see. He explained the results showing the peaks and lows of the heart, blood pressure, and sweat and when I sniffled and twitched. He hazzarded an educated guess at 11. Puzzled, I looked at the peaks and dips on the graph paper as well knowing the correct # . He asked if I was on any blood pressure medication, I'm not I replied. Then he asked me to display the # to the group as well as him. I hated to embarrass him but it was 9. He never missed a blink as he related a much more extensive test would have given a more positive result. This simple test was inconclusive. Agent X then took from a drawer the read out results of a recent poly graph test where a public servant was tripped up involving political and graft pay offs It sure had sharp peaks and dips any one could see . He also told of the latest lie detector involving brain scans and is 100% of the time right.
JD
The agent explained how the apparatus works and his complete faith in it and the results it gives but he cautioned the operator must relate it all to other factors and the way the questions are phrased. He asked for a volunteer subject and I stepped forward. Nothing personal will be asked just take this piece of paper write a number from one to 11 and pocket it. I did so and then was led off to the polygraph machine room behind a two way mirror just like on TV. The rest of the group could see my reactions I could only see the mirror. The agent rigged me up, three finger attachment to my digits on the left hand, to measure I think sweat. Agent X commented my fingers were callused.. The blood pressure tourniquet was rigged up next, to the right arm. and finally a band around the chest to measure breathing. Pressure was then applied to the tourniquet.
Agent X told me to answer NO to any question . He went down the line 1 to 11 then repeated the numbers randomly covering all numbers again. I answered each time "no" as instructed. My arm was well tingled with the blood cut off by the pressure machine and it was a relief when the test was over. I got off the electrified chair, what it measured I'll never know but I didn't get any jolt.
The rest of the group now assembled in the polygraph room I alone knew the #. Agent X took the graph paper from the machine and taped it to the wall for all to see. He explained the results showing the peaks and lows of the heart, blood pressure, and sweat and when I sniffled and twitched. He hazzarded an educated guess at 11. Puzzled, I looked at the peaks and dips on the graph paper as well knowing the correct # . He asked if I was on any blood pressure medication, I'm not I replied. Then he asked me to display the # to the group as well as him. I hated to embarrass him but it was 9. He never missed a blink as he related a much more extensive test would have given a more positive result. This simple test was inconclusive. Agent X then took from a drawer the read out results of a recent poly graph test where a public servant was tripped up involving political and graft pay offs It sure had sharp peaks and dips any one could see . He also told of the latest lie detector involving brain scans and is 100% of the time right.
JD