Ovilus Words: Paranormal Word-Device Sessions

An Ovilus is a ghost hunting device that speaks words out loud from a built-in dictionary, supposedly chosen by changes in the environment around it. Investigators use it to ask spirits questions and listen for words that seem to answer. Below, we explain what an Ovilus is, how it works, its different modes, what skeptics say, and the Ovilus and word-device sessions from LiveSciFi investigations, including "Gateway," "Legion" and "Leon," so you can watch each moment and decide for yourself.

What Is an Ovilus?

The Ovilus was created by Bill Chappell of Digital Dowsing in the late 2000s and became widely known through ghost hunting TV shows. It's a small electronic device with a speaker and a word database of around 2,000 words. When its sensors detect changes, it picks a word and says it out loud. Similar devices include the Paranormal Puck and many phone apps.

How Does an Ovilus Work?

The Ovilus reads environmental data, typically electromagnetic fields and sometimes temperature, and converts the readings into a number. That number points to a word in its dictionary. The theory is that a spirit can influence those readings to choose a word. Many models also have a phonetic mode that strings sounds together rather than whole words, and a yes-or-no mode.

How Investigators Use an Ovilus

1. Switch on the device away from phones and electronics, and note the words it says on its own as a baseline.
2. Ask clear questions and give the device time to respond.
3. Write down every word with its time, not just the ones that seem to fit.
4. Look for words that answer a question directly, repeat, or include names.

Is the Ovilus Real?

There's no scientific evidence that spirits can choose an Ovilus word. Critics point out that:

• The device will output words whether or not anything is present.
• With a database of around 2,000 words, some will seem relevant by chance.
• People tend to remember the hits and forget the misses.

Supporters point to direct answers, names that turn out to be meaningful, and words that match what other devices pick up at the same time. We show sessions in full, with the misses as well as the hits.

Ovilus Sessions from LiveSciFi Investigations

• The Ovilus says "Gateway" (39:24): during Lillian's Ouija experiment in our ZoZo investigations. Watch the moment
• "Leon" appears on the Ovilus (17:03): earlier in the same session. Watch the moment
• "Legion" at the Clown Motel (23:45): the team discusses fear and the word "Legion" during our Tonopah investigation. Watch the moment
• "Mommy" from Tim's repaired Ovilus (34:29): from a ZoZo Q&A session. Watch the moment
• "George" at a cabin near Donner Lake (8:07): questions about the area's history. Watch the moment
• "Finally" and "reap" at Crown Point Mill (22:02): dictionary-mode words during the seven-spirit ritual. Watch the moment

Play any of these moments in the player above, or browse every Ovilus moment in the archive below.

Ovilus FAQ

What is the difference between an Ovilus and a spirit box?

A spirit box scans live radio and you listen for words in the noise. An Ovilus picks words from its own built-in dictionary and speaks them clearly. Read our spirit box guide for more.

Can you get an Ovilus app?

Yes, many apps copy the Ovilus idea. Most use the phone's sensors or a random generator to pick words. See our article on ghost hunting apps.

Why does the Ovilus say random words?

The Ovilus picks a word whenever its sensor readings change, and readings change all the time, so it will speak with or without a presence. That's why investigators record a baseline first and judge words by whether they answer a specific question.

Related reading: Paranormal Evidence Archive · Spirit box sessions · EMF and REM-Pod · Clown Motel and Tonopah Cemetery