After observing the Ovilus at a few investigations, I’m impressed.

I’m also watching psychics react to this new research tool.  Some of them are not happy.

I understand their concerns.  The Ovilus could replace many psychics on real investigations.  That’s an issue if their primary interest is being the center of attention.

For the rest of us, every tool that supports our research is very exciting.  If it affirms what other tools or researchers claim, that’s even better.

Note: I want to clear up a recent misunderstanding.  A few of us were discussing high-tech tools while researching at the Edith Wharton home in Lenox, Massachusetts.

During that conversation, Barry Fitzgerald (from the Ghost Hunters International TV show) said that he preferred the Puck* to the Ovilus.  He mentioned the Puck’s additional features that make it more useful in his work.

In that conversation, Barry did not say anything negative about the Ovilus and — contrary to someone else’s assertion, shortly afterwards  — Barry did not say “the Ovilus is crap.”

Personally, I’m intrigued by the Ovilus and — after Barry’s recommendations — want to compare it with the Puck.  Currently, each is under $200, so this isn’t a large expense for professionals and serious researchers.

Is ghost hunting a competition?

I’ve seen the Ovilus upstage psychics.  The Ovilus talks and talks.  It  provides names, words and phrases.

The Ovilus seems to give accurate information.

Although the Ovilus’ files don’t contain names, I’ve heard the Ovilus say names that — in later historical research — turned out to be accurate.  That was proved during my investigation at the haunted Salem Inn in Salem, Massachusetts.  (See my preliminary research report [PDF] from that investigation.)

The Ovilus even upstages me.

Other psychics may be threatened by tools like the Ovilus.  Frankly, I’m relieved; with the Ovilus providing names and some context, I’m free to focus on more scientific research.

Also, stepping into the psychic trance can drain my energy.  If the Ovilus supplements or replaces my work as a psychic, I have more energy for historical research.

The Ovilus requires human assistance.  It just says the words; someone has to work with those words to see which seem to indicate phrases.  The Ovilus just gives us a sequence of words, and some additional anomalies to work with.

The Ovilus is a research tool, not a show

The Ovilus speaks in a monotone, similar to a Furby.  After the novelty wears off, it’s not nearly as entertaining as a psychic medium.

But that supports a point that I made in 1998.  In my earliest Ghost Hunters Guidelines, I said (and still do):

It is reasonable to reimburse someone for their time and expenses, if you accompany them on a ghost hunt. However, if someone is charging you money as if they’re providing a show… perhaps they are. Caveat emptor.

Lurid, tourist-oriented “ghost tours” and theatrical presentations can be tremendous fun.  I enjoy being in the audience, as much as anyone.

Many of them have just enough authenticity to interest serious researchers, too.

However, they’re far removed from the tedious nature of most real ghost investigations.

(Others have compared ghost hunting to fishing.  There are many similarities, especially how long we stand around waiting for something to happen.)

Events and conferences v. performances

I enjoy participating in events that include several professional investigators, equally.  No one person has to be “on stage” and produce a steady patter.  The latter demands can compromise the focus — and sometimes the integrity — of any psychic.

(According to reports of varying accuracy, we’ve seen that happen with both Uri Geller and Derek Acorah.  I respect both as remarkable psychics.  Unfortunately, they were put in the difficult position of having to perform consistently on cue, and — as most genuine psychics admit — we simply can’t do that.)

Reality shows sometimes blur the distinction between entertainers and researchers. Every good show needs both among the cast.  There’s nothing wrong with that, and — in the context of shows — one category is not better than the other.

However, in the real world, I see this field evolving in a different direction.  During ghost investigations — on and off the television — there’s a clear difference between those who thrive on attention, and those who are genuinely looking for answers.

That brings me back to the Ovilus and related tools.

As I said, the Ovilus talks and talks.  It performs better for some people than others, but it’s a useful tool at any investigation.

So, if a psychic doesn’t sense anything, the pressure is off. That’s great news!  The Ovilus can take center stage until the psychic has something to contribute.

The Ovilus and similar tools open ghost hunting to more people

Of course, the Ovilus could wholly replace some psychics, but that might be good for this field, as well.

A one-time investment in an Ovilus enables a group to offer local events with far lower ticket prices.  That will bring those events within the budgets of many more people.

The Ovilus also makes it possible for groups to investigate without the services of a psychic.

More research means more answers.  I’m very enthusiastic about that.

The Ovilus is one of many new tools that are transforming how we conduct events and investigations. The Puck offers some additional features, but less portability than the Ovilus. In addition, the K-II meter can be used with yes/no questions, to communicate directly with the ghosts.

The accessibility of these tools removes a lot of the mystery — and exclusivity — from this field.  If someone is in this field to be a celebrity, the Ovilus could be a threat.

But, for the rest of us, tools such as the Puck, the Ovilus, and the K-II meter provide communication options previously limited to experienced psychics.

In my opinion, this is step in the right direction.

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Product links

The Ovilus is available on a limited basis: The Ovilus, at DigitalDowsing.com

With Yes/No questions, the K-II EMF meter can be a very useful communication tool.  It’s also an excellent EMF meter, and a competent substitute for hand-held dowsing rods.  Here are two types of K-II meters:

*The Puck is similar to the Ovilus and manufactured by the same company.  The Puck includes additional data and it works with a laptop computer.  The Ovilus is hand-held so it can be easier to use in the field.  However, its primary purpose is to speak to researchers, audibly, and work as a digital dowsing rod.