World Famous Finger Analysis

Computer Psychic
 
Psychic readings are all about energy . . . .
 
but whether a computer has the right kind
 
to do the trick is up for debate.

    by Shane Holladay
    Special to The Edmonton Sun

Down in Hall C at the AgriCom, psychic activity and computing power have met head on, courtesy of World Famous Finger Analysis.
 
"It would take a professional psychic forever to explain it all in detail, so we have to rely on a computer," said Lynn, who opted out of providing a last name.
 
"With technology we've really done a good job," she said.

Before her was a photocopier to create an image of someone's hand the computer could read, and a few keyboards and printers.
 
Interested customers place their hand on a special reader, then wait while they get a diagram of their palm printed along with their future.

	Kenny Hawkins, left, and Daniel Soliman

 
The pinnacle of palm-reading technology looked like it was was running off Apple II Cs, a piece of high-tech equipment when Pretty in Pink was in theatres and Brian Mulroney was prime minister.
 
"It's only good for predictions up to three months," Lynn warned.
 
She did say one of the best things about the computer reading is that the printout offers more privacy than a psychic's.
 
"Customers come in with big smiles, they can't believe how accurate it is.  I really love working here, because I make everyone happy."
 
Since she never uses any other method of forecasting the future, Lynn said she couldn't comment on how it might compare in accuracy to other psychics.
 
"I'm just not sure they're reading energy," said professional psychic Kenny Hawkins, a few dozen booths over.  She prefers to use tarot cards over palmistry.
 
"When reading the tarot, (customers) present the cards to me and, energy-wise, they choose the cards and I get feelings that I translate into words for them," she said.
 
The kind of energy in a computer reading isn't what Hawkins processes, although she said palmistry is getting more scientific.
 
As for more accurate than a professional psychic, "I can't imagine that, no," she said.
 
Daniel Soliman had his computer reading done, mainly for kicks. "I think it's just for fun, not for everything else," said Soliman. "It gives you something to look forward to."

2001-07-24