More Behavioral Profiling
I’ve seen several articles based on this press release:
Computer and behavioral scientists at the University at Buffalo are developing automated systems that track faces, voices, bodies and other biometrics against scientifically tested behavioral indicators to provide a numerical score of the likelihood that an individual may be about to commit a terrorist act.
I am generally in favor of funding all sorts of research, no matter how outlandish—you never know when you’ll discover something really good—and I am generally in favor of this sort of behavioral assessment profiling.
But I wish reporters would approach these topics with something resembling skepticism. The false-positive rate matters far more than the false-negative rate, and I doubt something like this will be ready for fielding any time soon.
EDITED TO ADD (10/13): Another comment.
Joshua • October 15, 2007 6:45 AM
If reporters would approach any topic with even a little skepticism, I’d probably fall on my knees and give my life to Jesus, because only direct intervention from on high could possibly bring about such a miracle.