Millimeter wave technology has yet to be tested in American airports, but the backscatter device will undergo further tests at Los Angeles and New York City airports. The system's speed, effectiveness and durability will be evaluated. "We process two million passengers [at U.S. airports] a day," TSA's Kudwa says. "We need a technology that doesn't break down if it is run for 16 to 20 hours straight." The trials will also determine if Americans are ready for a technology that has been available for security purposes since the 1980s but has not been used because of privacy concerns.
"About 70 percent of the passengers have opted for backscatter" during this first week, Kudwa says. "The public response has been positive and, from a logistical standpoint, things are going well."
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Add CommentThey should at least have only women screen women, and males screen other men. If they don't, then men will be screening way more women then men. I'm not comfortable with that. I don't want some creep male airlines employee looking at essentially my naked body. Bad enough they leer when we have to take off our shoes and sweaters already. Plus, I'm not happy about being irridated.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPerhaps a cheaper option for the budget airlines could be to get everyone to strip off and walk through naked. In fact all the staff could be naked too, avoiding embarrassment to passengers. We could then be made to use the toilet publicly to prove we're not concealing anything inside us and to be doubly sure, some of us could get x-rayed! (for this you'd pay extra!) Ok, so this is a bit ridiculous and I agree security is important, but so is my personal privacy and space. I reserve the right to choose who sees me naked and any x-rays I require will be for medical purposes only.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMaybe some of us will just take the friggin train and skip the nude search. I swear if I have to go through one of these, I'm going to think about whatever I have to to get a rippin erection and grin like a maniac at the operator. If someone's gonna be uncomfortable, it sure isn't going to be me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisChristy, don't assume just because you're a woman everybody wants you. Most of us don't like most women, and many of us don't like women at all. Contrary to what women are told since birth, not everyone finds you sexually appealing.
Who are going to get to scan 300 LB fat people without getting sick?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWho are we going to get to look at 300 LB fat people without getting sick?Maybe the producers of biggest losers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe can add a device that gives a short neutron pulse.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf any explosives are incorporated in clothing, they will blow up, taking the would-be terrorist to his reward.
Of course it would entail a bomb-proof passage to save the inspectors.
The AS&E system uses 125KV x-rays like that of a medical CT-scanner, VERY penetrating. A small % bounce off your skin about 90% is absorbed by your body. The Rapiscan backscatter system uses 60KV x-rays most are absorbed by the skin and will increase your chance for skin cancer. Young children, expecting mothers and people with certain genetic conditions should avoid un-medically necessary x-rays. Jeff Rocky Flats Gear USA mfg of radiation protective undergarments.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBreast Cancer Gene
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/BRCA1
To read up on how the system works here is a patent link:
www.freepatentsonline.com/5313511.html