Breath Identification

[Michael]

I wondered about that while watching the episode and my guess is that it's just not that sensitive an area. Having a breath identifier as a security measure that's so easy to overcome leads me to believe it's just a more convenient method than handing out keys.

 

[cooleddie74]

Retinal scans are harder to fool. Fingerprints are likely the easiest of all and thus why we've rarely seen dermal ridges being used to gain access to sensitive areas. Cold Station 12 on ENT may have used the doctors' and scientists' handprints to open certain vaults but I'm not certain.

 

[Noname Given]

Retinal scans are harder to fool. Fingerprints are likely the easiest of all and thus why we've rarely seen dermal ridges being used to gain access to sensitive areas. Cold Station 12 on ENT may have used the doctors' and scientists' handprints to open certain vaults but I'm not certain.

You'd think with stuff like Transporters and medical tricorders (that even in the TOS era could give you a full reading as fast a needed by the plot); that they'd just do a quick DNA body scan of the person standing in front of the door.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Seriously, Breath ID? Between the spore drive and Breath ID I really have to try hard to suspend disbelief.

Even the pseudo science of it makes me scratch my head - can breath be that unique among same species as to offer a reliable way to identify someone? It seems the answer is NO as Burnham easily circumvented the measure to gain access to the lab.

Now, as a defensive weapon I can see it - we've all known people with deadly breath.

I'm gonna drop this here
You Breath Is As Unique As Your Fingerprint
Oh and

 

[Long Syntax]

I'm gonna drop this here
You Breath Is As Unique As Your Fingerprint
Oh and

Well, it is a very interesting article, thanks for sharing. However from a security perspective it was easily circumvented (at least as shown in STDSC).

I still think it's a silly application of security.

 

[Awesome Possum]

It was pretty clear the Captain wanted her to get in and was aware of it. It was probably a test.

 

[Long Syntax]

It was pretty clear the Captain wanted her to get in and was aware of it. It was probably a test.

Yeah, that's been the consensus. In my mind that doesn't detract from the argument that breath as a bio marker is easily compromised (and silly). Maybe it's just my opinion, but even my 11 year old daughter commented on the silliness (she's watched almost all 700+ hours of trek and not new to the show).

 

[BillJ]

It was pretty clear the Captain wanted her to get in and was aware of it. It was probably a test.

I doubt he installed breath sensors just for Michael Burnham. She's quickly moving into caricature territory because of all the stuff she does (xenoanthropology, tactical, quantum physics, computer programming, master of Vulcan kung-fu), and how awesome everyone thinks she is.

 

[Kevman7987]

I doubt he installed breath sensors just for Michael Burnham. She's quickly moving into caricature territory because of all the stuff she does (xenoanthropology, tactical, quantum physics, computer programming, master of Vulcan kung-fu), and how awesome everyone thinks she is.

At least she's not naturally gifted with the force too.

 

[BillJ]

At least she's not naturally gifted with the force too.

Give it time!

 

[seigezunt]

I have to wonder is the sort of thing that, through what happens here, they decide to abandon that particular tech, and that's why it's never heard of "later."

 

[Timo]

If there's to be a DNA scan, then it's natural to assume they'd need a sample. So, what's it gonna be? Blood? Sweat? Saliva? Breath seems like the least painful or cumbersome way to provide a substantial amount of material (that is, a lot less than is needed today, which is a good thing) for those sensors to scan.

And even if the sensors can read DNA at a distance, it makes no difference in terms of reliability. If there's correct DNA at a distance, it could be in a petri dish for all the sensors know. The only way to prevent that sort of cheating is to couple the DNA scanner with another type of sensor that establishes the context. Switching that one off would be the trivial way for Lorca to set up his test; and it takes Burnham down a welcome couple of pegs if we decide she wasn't Sherlock Holmes smart and capable of figuring out the sensors must be coupled this way.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[LocutusCrusher]

You see, in order to access the lab, your breath has to smell exactly like pickle pot pie.

 

[Long Syntax]

If there's to be a DNA scan, then it's natural to assume they'd need a sample. So, what's it gonna be? Blood? Sweat? Saliva? Breath seems like the least painful or cumbersome way to provide a substantial amount of material (that is, a lot less than is needed today, which is a good thing) for those sensors to scan.

And even if the sensors can read DNA at a distance, it makes no difference in terms of reliability. If there's correct DNA at a distance, it could be in a petri dish for all the sensors know. The only way to prevent that sort of cheating is to couple the DNA scanner with another type of sensor that establishes the context. Switching that one off would be the trivial way for Lorca to set up his test; and it takes Burnham down a welcome couple of pegs if we decide she wasn't Sherlock Holmes smart and capable of figuring out the sensors must be coupled this way.

Timo Saloniemi

As you point out, multi-factor authentication would be needed because, again as you correctly point out, DNA is DNA - but is it in a petri dish or is it from a living human.

As always Timo comes up with a reasonable explanation. Still, I giggle at the thought of a breathalyzer positioned at the helm - ya know, just in case the helmsman is in a questionable state

 

[shapeshifter]

IMO the breathalyzer is only a minor entry prevention measure. Crew members denied access are supposed to know they aren't allowed in there and attempting to circumvent it would be a chargeable offense.

Its point is to slow down an unauthorized invader from gaining easy access. As said above, a convenient kind of key.

 

[Albinator]

IMO the breathalyzer is only a minor entry prevention measure. Crew members denied access are supposed to know they aren't allowed in there and attempting to circumvent it would be a chargeable offense.

Its point is to slow down an unauthorized invader from gaining easy access. As said above, a convenient kind of key.

Exactly. It sounds like the nitpickers are out in force.

 

[Fateor]

I doubt he installed breath sensors just for Michael Burnham. She's quickly moving into caricature territory because of all the stuff she does (xenoanthropology, tactical, quantum physics, computer programming, master of Vulcan kung-fu), and how awesome everyone thinks she is.

To be fair Burnham was horrible at tactical, she thought the super obvious disrupter burns on that communications satellite was an asteroid impact.

 

[Long Syntax]

Exactly. It sounds like the nitpickers are out in force.

Now now, it's all in good fun. I paid my CBSAA subscription and I'm certainly not going to stop watching because the folks 10 years before Kirk and Spock have to give doors a hummer before they'll open.

If something's funny, something's funny, no matter what spin we can put on it. I mean, if Burnham shows up in EP4 with a clown nose, damn, I'm sure gonna mention it - even if @Timo can come up with some darn good reason why a red sphere on the end of her nose would somehow prove beneficial at warp velocities

 

[JoeCabby]

I remember TNG specifically that security was always pretty relaxed. I remember 80s business dude was easily able to contact the captain while he was in a meeting. The explanation for the lack of security was simply that people would normally have more sense than that.

Same with Picard always reminding security to keep guests out of high security areas, as if there isn't much security in place already.

Security has always just been an as-needed sort of thing and never seemed to be super difficult to get by in Star Trek.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Security has always just been an as-needed sort of thing and never seemed to be super difficult to get by in Star Trek.

Oh so now canon matters?

I think it's just there to check no one is high on shrooms.