by Eyewitness statements play a critical role in identifying perpetrators, but they are also prone to errors. To address this issue, psychologist Ulrike Kruse from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has developed visual aids using virtual reality (VR) to test the accuracy of eyewitness statements. Kruse and her colleague, Prof. Stefan R. Schweinberger, published their work in the journal PLOS ONE.
Kruse explains that there is a lack of available material for study programs in this field due to data protection laws. As a result, she took matters into her own hands and filmed six mini crime stories with the help of amateur dramatics groups. These short film sequences depict minor offenses, such as pickpocketing in a busy park. To enhance the realism of the eyewitness situations, Kruse utilized 3D technology and VR methods.
In order to create realistic identity parades, Kruse searched for 16 individuals who resembled the perpetrators in the videos. She photographed them and also made 3D portraits. This phase took a significant amount of time as Kruse had to ensure that the individuals truly resembled the perpetrators. She conducted a fairness test by having people watch the videos and provide written descriptions of the perpetrators. Then, 130 mock witnesses participated in an online survey to identify the person who matched the characteristics in the photos. The results of this test were promising, with all individuals in the virtual line-up selected multiple times.
Initially, Kruse used the visual material for her own research. She explored whether individuals with good face recognition skills also make better eyewitnesses. The goal is to assess the credibility of witnesses in court by subjecting them to a general test of their face recognition abilities. However, the final results are still pending.
The use of VR goggles to immerse test subjects in virtual reality for their role as eyewitnesses is a novel approach. Kruse’s work has revealed the challenges of remaining attentive in fully immersive situations. In one experiment, fewer than 20% of the participants demonstrated correct recognition. This highlights the need for further research in this area.
Kruse’s creation of visual material for testing eyewitness statements in VR opens up new possibilities for studying the accuracy of eyewitness accounts. By using immersive technology, researchers can better understand the factors that contribute to errors in eyewitness testimony. This research has the potential to improve the evaluation of witness credibility and prevent miscarriages of justice.
The development of such visual aids provides researchers and professionals in the criminal justice system with valuable tools to assess the reliability of eyewitness statements. With the increasing use of VR technology, it is crucial to understand its impact on witness memory and recognition. The findings from Kruse’s work could contribute to future improvements in the criminal justice system and help reduce the risk of wrongful convictions based on flawed eyewitness testimony.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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