Biolumanetics... Possible SWift Article?

NoAstronomer · 5th October 2007, 08:37 AM

I came across this article at Respectful Insolence. The article refers to a web site at Biolumanetics.net. The short story is that this guy believes he has found a way to tell how healthy people are by taking pictures of them and looking at how fuzzy they appear.

Quite apart from the woo aspect, my opinion of this is that the guy is knowingly defrauding his 'patients'. The case study pictures are clearly the result of deliberate manipulation of lighting and shutter speeds. I should know I screw stuff like that up all the time. Notice how the in-animate objects in the pictures are also fuzzy.

Any comments? There is a phone number to contact on the Biolumanetics website but I'm too chicken to call.

I did search the forums for Biolumanetics and 'Patrick Richards' before posting, apologies if this issue has been raised before.

Schneibster · 5th October 2007, 08:23 PM

The Schneibsteress suggests the following call script:

"Hi, my name is XXXXXX, and I'm taking a survey. Have you ever heard of a product called 'Photo Shop?'"

Physiotherapist · 6th October 2007, 02:05 AM

Why don't you e-mail Charles Wansbrough who is the UK contact? He is a former dentist who retrained as a homeopath and uses this in his homeopathy practice.

If you look at his part of the website that you can do under contacts, somewhere, he says that he takes all his photos with a Polaroid camera, so the picture is instant, rather than a digital camera.

Zep · 6th October 2007, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

...he says that he takes all his photos with a Polaroid camera, so the picture is instant, rather than a digital camera.

Ah, so digital cameras and photographs aren't instant in he UK. They have slower electrons there. Gotcha, Mr Wansbrough.

Physiotherapist · 7th October 2007, 03:06 AM

If as is claimed on the website, all photos must be taken with a Polaroid camera - meaning that the picture develops in front of you, can that be doctered with Photoshop or similar products such as iPhoto?

thatguywhojuggles · 7th October 2007, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

If as is claimed on the website, all photos must be taken with a Polaroid camera - meaning that the picture develops in front of you, can that be doctered with Photoshop or similar products such as iPhoto?

The images that we see on the website have been scanned and they definitely can be manipulated with photoshop.

Beanbag · 7th October 2007, 08:18 PM

It's quite possible to jack with the focus system on a Polaroid camera so pictures will be out of focus.

Beanbag

5th October 2007, 08:37 AM	#1
NoAstronomer Student Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 39	Biolumanetics... Possible SWift Article? I came across this article at Respectful Insolence. The article refers to a web site at Biolumanetics.net. The short story is that this guy believes he has found a way to tell how healthy people are by taking pictures of them and looking at how fuzzy they appear. Quite apart from the woo aspect, my opinion of this is that the guy is knowingly defrauding his 'patients'. The case study pictures are clearly the result of deliberate manipulation of lighting and shutter speeds. I should know I screw stuff like that up all the time. Notice how the in-animate objects in the pictures are also fuzzy. Any comments? There is a phone number to contact on the Biolumanetics website but I'm too chicken to call. I did search the forums for Biolumanetics and 'Patrick Richards' before posting, apologies if this issue has been raised before.

5th October 2007, 08:23 PM	#2
Schneibster Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,966	The Schneibsteress suggests the following call script: "Hi, my name is XXXXXX, and I'm taking a survey. Have you ever heard of a product called 'Photo Shop?'"
Schneibster Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,966

6th October 2007, 03:52 AM	#4
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by Physiotherapist ...he says that he takes all his photos with a Polaroid camera, so the picture is instant, rather than a digital camera. Ah, so digital cameras and photographs aren't instant in he UK. They have slower electrons there. Gotcha, Mr Wansbrough.
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

7th October 2007, 03:39 AM	#6
thatguywhojuggles Resident Juggler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 1,338	Originally Posted by Physiotherapist If as is claimed on the website, all photos must be taken with a Polaroid camera - meaning that the picture develops in front of you, can that be doctered with Photoshop or similar products such as iPhoto? The images that we see on the website have been scanned and they definitely can be manipulated with photoshop.
	__________________ \/\/ALTER Juggler-Artist-Atheist My Portfolio/ResumÃ© "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." -- Seneca the Younger (4? B.C. - 65 A.D.) "A lie goes half way around the world before the truth has a chance to get his pants on." - Winston Churchill.

7th October 2007, 08:18 PM	#7
Beanbag Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas/Fort Worth Posts: 2,709	It's quite possible to jack with the focus system on a Polaroid camera so pictures will be out of focus. Beanbag
	__________________ Nothing divides an indivisible nation quite as well as religion. Know god, no peace. No god, know peace. If Jesus is the answer, it must be a real dumb question.

6th October 2007, 02:05 AM	#3
Physiotherapist Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 361	Why don't you e-mail Charles Wansbrough who is the UK contact? He is a former dentist who retrained as a homeopath and uses this in his homeopathy practice. If you look at his part of the website that you can do under contacts, somewhere, he says that he takes all his photos with a Polaroid camera, so the picture is instant, rather than a digital camera.

7th October 2007, 03:06 AM	#5
Physiotherapist Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 361	If as is claimed on the website, all photos must be taken with a Polaroid camera - meaning that the picture develops in front of you, can that be doctered with Photoshop or similar products such as iPhoto?