The first electronic border controls are here to screen visitors
U.S border control creates a virtual ‘Elvis avatar’ to screen visitors (and he can even tell if you are lying)
- Complex algorithms use a variety of sensors to check if visitors arriving from Mexico are telling the truth
- Technology could also be used in a range of other ‘helper robots’
The US Government today unveiled its latest weapon against illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico, and it is not what you might expect.
At first glance, he could the ultimate border control officer – unflappable, able to detect lies, and never needing a break.
However, he is also a virtual person called Elvis – complete with a slick black quiff.
Developed by University of Arizona researchers in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the computer is known as the Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real-Time – or AVATAR – kiosk.
Elvis can interact with visitors to the US, and uses complex algorithms to monitor people and tell if they telling the truth.
He is already being trialled with ‘low risk’ passengers at Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales, Arizona, and could soon be a common sight at airports around the US.
Users must sign up to the scheme by giving fingerprints to the machine.
It is estimated that on average, each visitor takes around five minutes to go through the process.
When they arrive, they are greeted by Elvis, who tells them ‘I help the officers by asking some initial questions about your application.’
“What we’re looking for is changes in human physiology,” Doug Derrick, a member of the University of Arizona team behind the project told CNN.
‘We’ve had great success in reliably detecting these anomalies — things that people can’t really detect.’