You know that our security services and, more disturbingly, our prosecutors' offices still use the polygraph, right?

Yeah, the polygraph is no better. Homeland Security approached my old prof about building a field lie detector using just a computer and RTs. As part of their visit, they talked about their lie detection abilities, their motion-sensitive chairs, specially-built rooms, and super-investigators. I just rolled my eyes.

ya but when polygraphed .. you are aware that you are getting polygraphed. but secretly scanned from an adjacent room... that my friend is in the realm of science fiction...lol

My point was more that before condemning the Indians, we should remove the log from our own eye.

It's getting there. Polygraphs are still useful to measure ~~psychological~~ neurological response, so we might not see them disappear. I could certainly still find it convincing if corroborated with a psych expert who understands how to read it (and when NOT to draw a conclusion). The idea of discerning a lie with any reliability with a machine and no access to any direct evidence is absurd, though.