Naked scanner in airport trial

[Holdfast]

A trial of a scanner that produces "naked" images of passengers...

The scanners, made by RapiScan Systems...

Unfortunate name, at least to my slightly twisted mind.


I dislike the idea of some barely-speaking gorilla in a badly fitting polyester blazer seeing me naked (if I was into that, I know where I could go and pay for the privilege...)

However, I also dislike queuing up for hours in order for an unattractive illiterate societal reject from the female hammer-throwing team to wave their wand over me and frisk me (I also know where to go for this, too, and without the queue...)

So it's a question of which I dislike more. I think, on balance, I prefer momentary nudity to prolonged anticipation of frisking.

At least, in airports.

 

[Brent]

Looks like I know what my next job will be....

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Now all they need to do is devise technology to make all the molecules in one's undergarments leap simultaneously one foot to the left.

Something like this

Eh, needs more finite improbability.

 

[john titor]

completely degrading and undignified and showcases a total lack of respect for people. Its way too invasive but then try arguing that to the authoritarians. If they implement this properly I will be switching to naval travel.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The scanner cuts off faces before sending the image to the operator, so they just see naked bodies.

Well, there you are then. So what's the problem? If they can't see your face, they don't know it's you. Just some random naked headless image. That goes a long way towards lessening the problem, IMHO.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but whoever is viewing the images can't also see the actual person walking through the scanner, can they?

 

[cultcross]

The scanner cuts off faces before sending the image to the operator, so they just see naked bodies.

Well, there you are then. So what's the problem? If they can't see your face, they don't know it's you. Just some random naked headless image. That goes a long way towards lessening the problem, IMHO.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but whoever is viewing the images can't also see the actual person walking through the scanner, can they?

No, they're in a different room.

 

[John Picard]

A trial of a scanner that produces "naked" images of passengers...

The scanners, made by RapiScan Systems...

Unfortunate name, at least to my slightly twisted mind.


I dislike the idea of some barely-speaking gorilla in a badly fitting polyester blazer seeing me naked (if I was into that, I know where I could go and pay for the privilege...)

PM sent

 

[Lindley]

Maybe it's just me, but I hardly ever get picked out for random frisking, and it's been years since I set off the metal detector. If you know what you're doing, there's really no hassle in the current system other than the lines and a need to momentarily remove your shoes.

 

[TheGodBen]

So I should stick the bomb up my rectum? Thanks for the warning.

Maybe it's just me, but I hardly ever get picked out for random frisking

I was once, the time I chose to wear a cowboy hat to the airport for fun. I was "randomly" chosen for a bag search too. Lesson: airport security don't like eccentrics.

 

[Josh Kelton]

I'd probably be Ok with it. It's not like I've not been seen naked by people before, such as locker rooms, physical exams at doctors etc.

 

[Holdfast]

I dislike the idea of some barely-speaking gorilla in a badly fitting polyester blazer seeing me naked (if I was into that, I know where I could go and pay for the privilege...)

PM sent

I'll send you the membership application form.

... there's really no hassle in the current system other than the lines and a need to momentarily remove your shoes.

That's like saying death row is a breeze apart from the long wait and the final execution.

 

[Lindley]

Ah. Well, the key to mitigating the line problem is to know the airport you're going to use, and plan your trip for when the lines are shortest. Doesn't always work, but a lot of the time it does. For instance, at Washington Dulles, the JetBlue check-in line is always much shorter than the United line; but if United happens to be cheaper, then the United Bag-Drop line for those who check in via the internet is always much shorter than the normal check-in line.

Also, don't attempt to fly domestic on United with a paper ticket. They seriously have no clue what to do when confronted with one. The international counter can usually work things out, but that's a second line and a major hassle.

And as for security, well, just don't travel during peak hours. Usually the cheaper tickets will be at odd hours anyway.

 

[Joshua Howard]

I have never found airport security to be a really big hastle, but I don't fly very often, and when I do, I head for the gate early and am not in a hurry.

In any case, I don't really care about this. It is not nearly as bad as stripping down for a physical and having a doctor prodding and poking all over, or any number of other things. In all reality, if it means I can patter right on through without waiting in any line and security will be none the worse for it, I cast no objection.

 

[Brent]

This brings up a potential for perversion, like what if the security people looking at these naked pictures are perverts

 

[John Picard]

... there's really no hassle in the current system other than the lines and a need to momentarily remove your shoes.

That's like saying death row is a breeze apart from the long wait and the final execution.

That, and the food at the very end is really good.

 

[Guartho]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8303983.stm

"The images ... cannot be stored or captured in any way,

Riiiiiiight.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

This brings up a potential for perversion, like what if the security people looking at these naked pictures are perverts

At this point I don't really care. I'm satisfied with what I've heard:

- The images are B&W X-ray-ish images, not exactly crystal clear photographic quality

- They don't show the head, so it's impossible to identify a person directly by looking at the image

- Whoever is viewing the images can't see the people walking through the detector, so they have no idea who it is anyway

Given these, I think this thing isn't the bugaboo that it's being made out to be. When you get frisked, they're right there with you, you're being essentially groped. But with this scanner, it's all done by remote, and no one's looking at you, technically. Just a faded looking image of something that might be you.

 

[cultcross]

This brings up a potential for perversion, like what if the security people looking at these naked pictures are perverts

There's porn on the internet. And it's not blurry, grey x-ray images.

 

[Holdfast]

Ah. Well, the key to mitigating the line problem is to know the airport you're going to use, and plan your trip for when the lines are shortest. Doesn't always work, but a lot of the time it does. For instance, at Washington Dulles, the JetBlue check-in line is always much shorter than the United line; but if United happens to be cheaper, then the United Bag-Drop line for those who check in via the internet is always much shorter than the normal check-in line.

Also, don't attempt to fly domestic on United with a paper ticket. They seriously have no clue what to do when confronted with one. The international counter can usually work things out, but that's a second line and a major hassle.

And as for security, well, just don't travel during peak hours. Usually the cheaper tickets will be at odd hours anyway.

Whatever happened to the idea that air travel should be a convenience for us, not a hassle to be negotiated around?

You know what?

I'd actually take my chances with the terrorists and the old security systems. Not even kidding. Yeah, yeah "if it only saves one life, it's worth it".

Bull.

What about all the minor frustrations to millions of travellers? I reckon that probably adds up to the emotional equivalent to a few hundred deaths a year (not to mention the stress of the security procedures subtly hastening the actual deaths of a small number of travellers each year). On average, the terrorists were killing a lot fewer people per year than that. I'd take my chances with those kinds of odds and skip the long queues.

Divert the money to searching a few more caves in North Waziristan or wherever.

This brings up a potential for perversion, like what if the security people looking at these naked pictures are perverts

I like the optimism behind the use of the word "if".

... there's really no hassle in the current system other than the lines and a need to momentarily remove your shoes.

That's like saying death row is a breeze apart from the long wait and the final execution.

That, and the food at the very end is really good.

Wow, you must REALLY like airplane food.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Don't really see the problem with that. I will gladly autograph my pictures if courteously requested.