Problem StatementSince its inception, the study of paranormal activity has remained trapped between scientific and personal experiences. The methods and analyses are often drawn from the scientific community, but the data is personal evidence more likely to be accepted by general society. Catalogs outlining the variety of paranormal experience and summarizing individual cases appeared as early as the sixteenth century. Since the late 19th century, modern science has been probed for explanations of the phenomena that had previously been inexplicable. The Society for Psychical Research (SPR), formed in 1882, was the first organization, founded by British scientists, as a forum for scientific investigation of paranormal activity. The academic community did not embrace this research and often refused to accept papers in the field. The rise of interest in rigorous investigation of paranormal occurrences historically parallels the development of sciences such as psychology, biology, and physics. These sciences were also attempting to relate the function the human, particularly the human brain, to its environment. The failure of the community interested in paranormal phenomena to provide convincing evidence contrasts with the success of physics to determine links between physiological activity and electrical measurements. Hans Berger, often termed the father of electroencephalography, originally was interested in the link between electrical activity in the brain and telepathic phenomena; however, the link between these proved nonexistent. In contrast to this failure, the connection between electrical activity in the brain and mental and physical activity yielded a significant medical tool, the EEG.One area of particular interest in the study of paranormal activity is the investigation of ghosts orapparitions. Movie series such as Ghostbusters and Poltergeist, which enjoyed great popular success, indicate a general fascination with the subject of post-death activity. Surveys have indicated belief in haunted houses in as many as 30% of respondents; simultaneously, studies have attempted to correlate such beliefs to media exposure (Campbell), personality traits (Auton), and church attendance (Orenstein), to mention a few of the numerous considerations of this topic. These psychological explanations attempt to reduce belief to a byproduct of an environment; consequently, the possibility of scientific credibility is unmentioned. Behind general societal interest in apparitions and other occurrences is a core of individuals who actively seek proof and scientific justification for beliefs in paranormal events. A dedicated set of skeptics forms a complementary segment of society determined to reveal the absence of unequivocal evidence. Consequent to this opposition, believers seek to use scientific tools to observe, record, and consider evidence; additionally, the best locations to use these tools are sought. The “haunted house”, a location identified with potential paranormal activity, is an excellent choice because the location is known and the time of the event may be predictable. As Carl Becker points out, studying these locations can demonstrate that “apparitions may be objectively perceived by recording devices and that they are not merely the projections of the perceivers” (Becker 48). This type of data, which offers the greatest potential for convincing skeptics, creates a market for reliable instruments to characterize apparitions.The instrumentation associated with detecting ghosts includes EMF sensors, temperature probes, and motion and audio detection devices. A great quantity of instruments is offered to interested parties; however, these exhibit a variety of qualities, functions, and reliabilities. Most interface with digital multimeters or are stand-alone devices with analog or digital displays. There are several problems with the devices currently available:1. If multiple devices are to be used, multiple displays will need to be consulted to assess the current environment.2. To record data, the user will need to connect any devices to a computer. This may not be possible for some devices, and the user may not have the technical knowledge necessary to accomplish this.3. If data is not being recorded, a person will need to be present to monitor the instruments.4. The sensors (EMF, temperature, motion, etc.) alert the user to the potential presence of apparitions. These will not initially be set up to trigger any recording devices (cameras, microphones), but this function would increase the usefulness of the sensors and decreasehuman error when reading the sensors.An integrated device that includes sensors and recording devices needs to be developed to tackle these problems, automate the process, and increase confidence in the measurement procedure by eliminating human error. Communication with a computer by 10/100 Base-T Ethernet will allowdata to be exported for later reduction or reference. Temperature, EMF, motion, and audio sensors will be connected to the device; additionally, a webcam or other IEEE-1394 IIDC compliant camera will be connected via Firewire.When the device is on, the current temperature, EMF, and motion levels will be sent to the computer. The latest thirty seconds of video, audio, and sensor measurements will be buffered on the device. If motion is detected, or temperature, EMF, or sound levels change, the buffer of data will be stored in the device and be made accessible to the remote computer. While motion or an elevated EMF or sound level persists, thirty-second increments of data will continue to be placed on the internal storage of the device and made available to the remote computer. The recording of data will continue until thirty seconds after all abnormal or elevated sensations cease. Software on the networked computer will download information, manage data, and display sensor measurements.Professional investigators that monitor haunted locations will be interested in this device. It will operate without direct human supervision, and the device can record and store data even if the network is down or the networked computer is not functioning or connected. The integration of the sensors into the recording functions will effect an immediate reduction of data; consequently, the user will only need to sift through the video recordings taken while some type of activity occurred. Skeptics seeking to disprove the