Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »
Public Council Teleconference: Application Rationalization — Hidden Costs and Smart Decisions
November 17 at 11:00 am US/Eastern (GMT-5)
Join Honorio Padrón, of The Hackett Group, who will share the drivers for companies to tackle application rationalization and the results of research that define the hidden cost of complexity. Additionally, we will discuss key decision milestones—to start or not, holding the course steady and fulfilling expectations.
Virtual Desktop Cost-Benefit Analysis — Michael Jacobs, Catlin Group
The analysis contained in this presentation measures the cost of everything from the machines and licenses to the infrastructure for virtual vs. traditional desktop environments.
Honor your best senior team members - Apply for the CIO Ones to Watch Award
Get well-earned public recognition for your top up-and-coming team members, your IT organization and your enterprise. Award winners will be announced, publicized and feted in May 2010, great timing to help attract new IT recruits to your company.
Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »October 26, 2007 — CIO —
How do you catch a ghost? Not with an iPhone—at least not yet. Paranormal investigators employ an unusual array of equipment: Favorite gadgets range from the simple—thermometers and carpenter's levels—to the complex and expensive—infrared thermal cameras and ultrasonic listening devices.
Thermometers have been used for decades in paranormal investigations, as cold spots are said to be clues to the locations of supernatural beings, says Loyd Auerbach, founder and director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations.
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Simple temperature gauges like the ones you might hang outside your back door can be set up in separate areas of a home or other locations to monitor temperature and detect sudden changes. But experienced ghost hunters employ digital thermometers with built-in alarms and memory to record minimum and maximum temperatures. The alarms can alert investigators to drastic temperatures changes, so that they don't need to remain in a single spot to monitor shifts. These gadgets, which sell for about $40, also show the historical range of normal temperatures.
Some ghost hunters also swear by thermal scanners—thermometers that use infrared technology to measure temperatures at a distance. Most of these gizmos look like bulky, plastic guns that you point at an area (perhaps across a room) to gauge temperature. But you need a surface against which the infrared laser can bounce. So if you're looking for a reading in the middle of a room, you must purchase an even more expensive scanner that works with a moveable probe and receiver. Typical point-and-shoot thermal scanners run from $100 to $200.
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| TriField EMF Meter |
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) meters measure levels of electromagnetic radiation—which ghost hunters believe apparitions emit. This radiation originates from a wide variety of sources, including the earth, people, electronics and power lines. Different EMF meters gauge radiation levels at different frequencies, so some investigators choose to carry multiple meters.
The meters often look like large, handheld computing devices with small displays and various knobs to adjust settings as you pace around an area.
One commonly used EMF meter, the Trifield Natural EM Meter, goes for $170, but some high-end industrial EMF meters will run you several thousand dollars.
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| Canon EOS Digital SLR Camera |
Vince Wilson, author of Ghost Science: The Essential Guide to the Scientific Study of Ghosts and Hauntings, and Ghost Tech: The Essential Guide to Paranormal Investigation Equipment, calls his digital SLR camera the most valuable tool in his ghost hunter's arsenal—though other ghost hunters say the value of photographic or digital images in this pursuit is debatable. Some paranormal investigators believe that ghosts cannot be photographed at all and that the true value of photographic and video recording equipment is in capturing witness testimony and documenting locations. Wilson believes a combination of audio and video will eventually convince the public of the existence of ghosts.