Smartphone Apps and Paranormal Investigation

"With advancements in technology, mostly in the creation of apps, are 'paranormal' based apps like Ghost Radar and iOvilus useful in the paranormal field as stand-alone gadgets?"

What are 'apps'?

Apps, short for "applications", are software designed to run on your phone, tablet, etc. Some are pre-installed and are free whereas others can be downloaded from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS).

Now all apps need access to certain permissions on your phone, like your camera, microphone, wi-fi and network access, your location, storage (internal and external), photos, contacts and other parts of your phone.

How do apps work?

Apps are all different in how they work. The only constant of their usage is that they utilise all the devices internal systems like the magnetometer, accelerometer, voice recorder, etc. Some apps are great, like banking apps that allow you to access your bank account and do pretty much everything you can just like when you log in on the web site.

But some apps you seriously need to question if you actually need them... like why download a 3rd Party Voice Recorder app when your phone already has an in-built 'native' voice recorder?

Disclaimer!!!

So when you log into Google Play or the App Store, when you read up on these apps there is a clear and concise disclaimer that reads something along the lines of:

"Please be aware that this app is for entertainment only and does not provide true Ghost Hunting functionality".

So with this statement clearly written in then why do millions of so-called Paranormal Investigators use them and shout out to all and sundry that these provide proof of ghosts and contact with spirits?

What a joke!

These apps - at best - are nothing more than software designed for entertainment. Add to this that mobile phone technology and the hardware and firmware in them is not designed for these apps to run in the way the developers intended. In fact, these app developers have done what they intended to do... make money out of many gullible people that really truly believe these apps actually do detect ghosts and spirits.

If these app designers knew the technology inside mobile phones then they would know their apps will not work how they want or even think they do! And for those that do they use this to their advantage to make the believers part with their hard-earned cash for something that just does not work.

So what's in your phone?

The main 4 sensors in your mobile device are:

1. Accelerometer

2. Gyroscope

3. Magnetometer

4. Global Positioning System (GPS)

Some newer phones also have Barometer sensors that with 3rd Party downloaded apps they can tell you information on air pressure and altitude.

The ACCELEROMETER is designed to detect when your device is in motion.

The GYROSCOPE is designed to detect your device's orientation - hence why if you change your phone from portrait to landscape all the icons, etc. stay upright.

The MAGNETOMETER is designed to measure magnetic fields and as such uses the compass apps to point north and help you find your position - alongside using data from the Accelerometer and Gyroscope.

And the GPS is designed to pick up your device's location - and again also uses the other three sensors in conjunction.

So before you think that these sensors will help in assisting these apps with providing evidence and proof of ghosts and spirits, check out Ashton Rogers article - The Truth About EMF Apps - where he actually got evidence from two mobile phone giants that proves they are not designed to work with these apps and never will. The app designers only peddle to the masses to make money... and with them selling to millions around the world they have done just that with apps that do not deliver!

Beware! These Apps use your device's information...

It goes without saying, but I'll mention it anyway, that all apps need something to work. Many use all your information and settings to gain information to give you what you want to see and hear.

Take Facebook for a big example... it is uncanny and bizarre that you could be talking about something... say winter jackets... and then within a few minutes your Facebook feed comes up with ads about jackets! Weird huh?

Not really... it is all to do with your device listening in and then sending that information into cyber space and then big-business companies like Facebook try to coerce you to part with your money or to offer up information that you wouldn't normally give up. That is how ads work... they watch your search history and then plague you with ads.

The same can be said of Alexa and Siri - they are always listening! And no it is not paranoia - remember that just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you! In fact it is believed that your mobile phone can still locate you and listen in even when switched off! If webcams can be hacked then it is a given that mobile cameras can be too!

Watch out!

I have an uneasy feeling that certain apps like iOvilus use your GPS and therefore location to detect where you are and from the many many stories and information on the internet extrapolate that information and offer up key words based on that location. So for arguments sake, say you are at 30 East Drive in Pontefract, Yorkshire - the so-called "most haunted house in the UK" and you use the iOvilus or any other app that requires use of your device's GPS, etc. then it will undoubtedly pick up and offer words and phrases linked accordingly to make one think that these things actually work.

I personally think, similar to Alexa and Siri, your phone's microphone is constantly listening... even if only listening when the app is being used and so can pick up on words and phrases - people naturally talk when at a location and it doesn't take much to talk about the location you are investigating. But it is extremely naive to think that these apps work as intended in the paranormal field.

Conclusion?

The following on one of these apps explains it all!

****** is the original application designed to detect paranormal activity. ****** attempts to detect paranormal activity by making various readings on the device. Traditional paranormal equipment can be easily fooled when simple mundane bursts of normal energy occur. ****** sets itself apart by analyzing the readings and giving indications only when interesting patterns in the readings have been made.

****** also includes a voice to let you know when interesting words have been detected. Please note we offer no guarantees of accuracy or any warranties, therefore, since results from this application cannot be verified scientifically the app should be used for entertainment purposes.

The first paragraph clearly states "designed to detect paranormal activity" and "Traditional paranormal equipment can be easily fooled...".

The second paragraph states "...offer no guarantees of accuracy..." and "...therefore, since results from this application cannot be verified scientifically the app should be used for entertainment purposes."

WTF?????

Both paragraphs clearly oppose each other - on the one hand the app is the "mutts nuts"... but on the other it is not scientifically proved to work.

So please do not use these apps if you are an ardent and truthful paranormal investigator. If, however, you are just wanting a laugh and don't worry about self-respect or your reputation in the paranormal field then go right ahead and use them.