"The motion of electrically polarized matter in nonuniform fields is called dielectrophoresis. Compared to the movement of charged particles (electrophoresis), it is a mild effect, which is why it has been so long neglected. Fields with a strength of a few thousand volts per centimeter are usually required to set up an appreciable force."

2. The phenomenon of dielectrophoresis is cited by Dielectrokinetic Laboratories in reference (a) as the underlying principle of operation for their DKL Lifeguard series of human heartbeat detectors. As is clearly described in Pohl’s article, dielectrophoresis involves very small displacements (i.e., a few centimeters) of minute particles (i.e., fine powders) under the influence of extremely high voltages (i.e., thousands of volts) in a laboratory setting.

3. The DKL Lifeguard Model 1, which weighs 1.5 pounds, supposedly is physically turned in orientation to point its antenna towards the non-uniform electric field generated by a human heartbeat, thereby revealing a human presence. This particular unit requires no batteries and employs an omni-directional telescoping whip antenna as its sensing element, yet has an advertised detection range of 500 meters and an associated angular accuracy of ±5 degrees.

4. To propose on the basis of dielectrophoresis the significant displacement of a 1.5 pound mass in response to the extremely weak electrical field generated by the human heart at a distance of 500 meters, particularly as sensed by an omnidirectional antenna oriented along its weakest axis with no subsequent amplification, is in my opinion quite ludicrous.