SteveGrenard
Philosopher
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2002
- Messages
- 5,528
Although we have had haunted house attractions on permanent display at Coney Island and elsewhere for 50 or maybe a 100 years or more, which kids everywhere enjoy, especially on Halloween, an allegedly serious skeptic, Richard Wiseman (UK) has decided to set up his own haunted house to demonstrate, er, haunted houses and to raise money by charging admission I guess. What an original idea. Here is the press release. I don't know how I missed it before. If Schwartz did this I wonder what the people here woud be saying? LOL. It will go down in history and produce some really important scientific results according to Wiseman.
I am sure if anyone can build the world's best haunted house attraction it will be Wiseman.
--------------------------------------------------
Psychologist to create scientific haunted house
Ghost-busting psychologist Richard Wiseman hopes to create his own 'haunted house' where spooky phenomena can be summoned at the flick of a switch.
Wiseman believes ghostly experiences can be explained by a combination of fear, and effects such as electromagnetic fields, temperature changes and low rumblings.
He plans to put his theory to the test by having control over a spooky environment.
Dr Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire said : "We want to build our own haunted house, so we are totally in control.
"It would give really important scientific results, produce a huge amount of publicity, and go down in history."
Dr Wiseman believes unusual environmental effects play an important role in many ghostly sensations, and may even account for some sightings.
Laboratory experiments have suggested that subtle electromagnetic fields and "infrasound" - low frequency vibrations just below the limit of human hearing - can induce hallucinations and feelings of unease.
There is also evidence that even a small drop in temperature can set the hairs standing on end, as can certain types of lighting and the shapes and sizes of rooms.
Such effects were seen in investigations undertaken by Dr Wiseman at two prime haunted sites, Hampton Court Palace near London and the South Bridge Vaults beneath a Victorian Bridge in Edinburgh.
"We showed people had odd experiences in the same places, and now we know they're based on environmental factors," said Dr Wiseman.
In his haunted house, visitors would be terrified by speakers emitting infrasound, electrical coils hidden behind pictures, and sudden draughts generated from vents in skirting boards.
There would also be control over lighting, the lay-out of rooms, and features within the rooms.
Dr Wiseman hopes the house can pay for itself by pulling in crowds, especially if associated with historic venues.
23rd July 2003
I am sure if anyone can build the world's best haunted house attraction it will be Wiseman.
--------------------------------------------------
Psychologist to create scientific haunted house
Ghost-busting psychologist Richard Wiseman hopes to create his own 'haunted house' where spooky phenomena can be summoned at the flick of a switch.
Wiseman believes ghostly experiences can be explained by a combination of fear, and effects such as electromagnetic fields, temperature changes and low rumblings.
He plans to put his theory to the test by having control over a spooky environment.
Dr Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire said : "We want to build our own haunted house, so we are totally in control.
"It would give really important scientific results, produce a huge amount of publicity, and go down in history."
Dr Wiseman believes unusual environmental effects play an important role in many ghostly sensations, and may even account for some sightings.
Laboratory experiments have suggested that subtle electromagnetic fields and "infrasound" - low frequency vibrations just below the limit of human hearing - can induce hallucinations and feelings of unease.
There is also evidence that even a small drop in temperature can set the hairs standing on end, as can certain types of lighting and the shapes and sizes of rooms.
Such effects were seen in investigations undertaken by Dr Wiseman at two prime haunted sites, Hampton Court Palace near London and the South Bridge Vaults beneath a Victorian Bridge in Edinburgh.
"We showed people had odd experiences in the same places, and now we know they're based on environmental factors," said Dr Wiseman.
In his haunted house, visitors would be terrified by speakers emitting infrasound, electrical coils hidden behind pictures, and sudden draughts generated from vents in skirting boards.
There would also be control over lighting, the lay-out of rooms, and features within the rooms.
Dr Wiseman hopes the house can pay for itself by pulling in crowds, especially if associated with historic venues.
23rd July 2003