What is Computerized Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA)?
Starting about 25 years ago, serious efforts were made to use the voice to detect deception. Many devices were marketed for this purpose. The most widely advertised devices have been the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE), the Hagoth, the Mark II Voice Stress Analyzer (VSA), and the Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA). If effective, voice analysis offers many advantages over current polygraph methodology. Voice samples can be recorded without discomfort to the subject. Examinations could be conducted remotely, both in distance, using a telephone or radio link, or in time, using a tape recording. In rare cases, it could even be conducted after a persons death, if a recording made under proper technical, psychological, and investigative conditions existed. The recordings could also be conducted surreptitiously and would be of great benefit in intelligence and counterintelligence investigations, international negotiations, etc. However, the preponderance of evidence indicates the
