winbig
03-18-2009, 07:56 PM
I heard about these several months ago, I think they were testing them in France at the time, but can't remember precisely. They say that you can opt-out of this scan, but if you do, you'll be patted down by a TSA worker of the same sex....Why the pat downs? I doubt they're going to get rid of the metal detectors and x-ray machines..
But, this way will be much faster in getting through security. You won't have to empty all your pockets, take off your shoes, take your laptop out of its bag and stick it in its own tray, and also won't have to wait for people ahead of you to go through 50 times because they keep forgetting to take something out of their pockets. :rolleyes:
Federal security officials are using McCarran International Airport to test whether it would make sense to replace airport metal detectors throughout the nation with whole-body image scanners, devices that peer through travelers' clothing to ensure they aren't carrying weapons.
Transportation Security Administration officials on Tuesday fired up the second "whole-body imaging device" at McCarran, this one in Terminal 2, a departure point for international flights.
The second device is part of a pilot program to test whether imagers can replace metal detectors now in widespread use.
In about 60 days the TSA will evaluate the results from McCarran and five other airports and decide whether or not to continue with the plan.
"It's kind of a fine balance between safety of the passengers and privacy," said business traveler Paco Castellanos, 44, of Las Vegas.
The imaging devices caused a bit of a stir in June, when they were first rolled out as a secondary, optional screening method in about 20 airports. The first whole-body imager at McCarran went into use in October.
Castellanos, a leadership consultant who flies about once a month, recalled the outcry, but didn't share the outrage.
"I saw on the news it might be a little intrusive," he said. "I personally don't have a problem."
TSA is betting travelers like Castellanos are representative of the traveling public.
That's why the agency is continuing to experiment with the devices. The new wave represented in a pilot program at McCarran and five other airports is different from the first in that these scanners will be primary screening devices, meaning they could be used in place of a metal detector. The original machines are used in addition to metal detectors.
In each type of use, unidentifiable black-and-white images from the device are transmitted to a private room for viewing by human screeners. They use "millimeter wave" technology to scan the subjects and create the images.
The workers supervising the checkpoint do not see the images and the employees monitoring the screen shots do not see the subjects in person. Images are neither printed nor saved. They cannot be transmitted to other locations.
Whether the machines are being used in place of or in addition to metal detectors, travelers will have the choice to opt out of screening with the device.
The rest of the story: http://www.lvrj.com/business/41420602.html
But, this way will be much faster in getting through security. You won't have to empty all your pockets, take off your shoes, take your laptop out of its bag and stick it in its own tray, and also won't have to wait for people ahead of you to go through 50 times because they keep forgetting to take something out of their pockets. :rolleyes:
Federal security officials are using McCarran International Airport to test whether it would make sense to replace airport metal detectors throughout the nation with whole-body image scanners, devices that peer through travelers' clothing to ensure they aren't carrying weapons.
Transportation Security Administration officials on Tuesday fired up the second "whole-body imaging device" at McCarran, this one in Terminal 2, a departure point for international flights.
The second device is part of a pilot program to test whether imagers can replace metal detectors now in widespread use.
In about 60 days the TSA will evaluate the results from McCarran and five other airports and decide whether or not to continue with the plan.
"It's kind of a fine balance between safety of the passengers and privacy," said business traveler Paco Castellanos, 44, of Las Vegas.
The imaging devices caused a bit of a stir in June, when they were first rolled out as a secondary, optional screening method in about 20 airports. The first whole-body imager at McCarran went into use in October.
Castellanos, a leadership consultant who flies about once a month, recalled the outcry, but didn't share the outrage.
"I saw on the news it might be a little intrusive," he said. "I personally don't have a problem."
TSA is betting travelers like Castellanos are representative of the traveling public.
That's why the agency is continuing to experiment with the devices. The new wave represented in a pilot program at McCarran and five other airports is different from the first in that these scanners will be primary screening devices, meaning they could be used in place of a metal detector. The original machines are used in addition to metal detectors.
In each type of use, unidentifiable black-and-white images from the device are transmitted to a private room for viewing by human screeners. They use "millimeter wave" technology to scan the subjects and create the images.
The workers supervising the checkpoint do not see the images and the employees monitoring the screen shots do not see the subjects in person. Images are neither printed nor saved. They cannot be transmitted to other locations.
Whether the machines are being used in place of or in addition to metal detectors, travelers will have the choice to opt out of screening with the device.
The rest of the story: http://www.lvrj.com/business/41420602.html