Crystal Rogers (FGCU) Airport Security

            Airport security used to rely heavily on metal-detectors to detect vigilantes with a concealed weapon in their carry-on bags or on their bodies. But after several failed field tests, it was time to find new ways to screen passengers. So they came up with intrusive pat-downs at checkpoints in the airport. This includes patting-down the passengers in order to try and feel for explosives or weapons on the body. But after multiple reports of the airport security “groping” passengers, it was once again time to find new ways to screen. Recently a new technology has been created called the “backscatter X-ray”. Time will only tell if this will be the technology we’ve been waiting for in security screening.

            The backscatter X-ray shoots a low-intensity X-ray beams that penetrate clothing and bounce off a persons’ skin. Unlike a traditional X-ray, the backscatter cannot see inside a person. Officials report that a backscatter scan gives off very minimal radiation. “It’s like being out in the sun for 15 to 20 minutes.” Reports from the National Council on Radiation Protection state that someone would need 2,500 backscatter scans a year before reaching illegal limits.

            Apparently in this scan, metal objects are highlighted by a heavy black line. Whereas body contours appear as a faint gray line. The issue of privacy raises high above all. People are worried that X-rays will see through clothing and that their images will somehow wind up on the internet. This backscatter scan promises to avoid this. But does that come with a price? This “edge detection” technology looks for changes in density or molecular structure on a person and draws outlines around those areas. This might cause problems in detecting some plastic explosives that have a density close to human issue. Many critics worry that this scan will only find the “obvious” stuff but not everything.

            These backscatter scans are just starting to be tested in airports around the world. The controversy surrounding this issue will continue until questions are answered. We will just have to wait and see if this new technology delivers what the people want: a safe, effective, and private way to screen airport passengers.

This entry was posted on 24. March 2009 at 01:17 and is filed under Introduction to Sociology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.