Since the SPR was founded, many new elements have been added to the study of ghosts and apparitions. Surprisingly, some of the tools at the modern ghost hunter's disposal are similar to those used in the 1880s. Good observational skills, accurate recording of information, and an inquiring and skeptical mind are prerequisites that will probably never change.

Electronic Spook Sleuths

The invention of radio and television ushered in a new age in ghost hunting. It was widely reported that people were picking up transmissions from the other side through these mediums. Televisions that were turned off displayed the ghostly faces of deceased relatives, or more frequently, total strangers.

Recordings of garbled voices surfaced as well. These voices came to be known as electronic voice phenomena (EVPs). One of the characteristics of EVPs is the reaction they produce in the listener. Sometimes they will literally send chills up the spine or cause the hair on the back of the neck to stand up. Critics allege that the sounds are random signals that the human mind interprets as meaningful.

Digital Necromancy

Only in the twenty-first century has digital photography been readily accessible to paranormal investigators. The new generation of audio software can be loaded onto home computer systems and can filter out background noises and boost weak audio signals, allowing paranormal investigators to more easily analyze audio data captured on both analog and digital recorders.

Digital thermometers, too, have increased in sophistication. They are more sensitive than ever to slight temperature fluctuations and the movement of cold spots. Electromagnetic field (EMF) meters have increased in ease of use and sensitivity, with red lights that signal users of readings beyond normal ranges.