DHS to field Star Trek 'Tricorder' medscanner

[Jeri]

After browsing the topics, I didn't see this one; apologies if it's been posted before. (Here is the Department of Homeland Security page, with picture.)

And the news article where it was published:

DHS to field Star Trek 'Tricorder' medscanner

'They're dead, Jim! DEAD! No, wait... flat battery'
By Lewis Page
Posted in Biology, 22nd May 2009 09:42 GMT


US federal boffins say they are well on the way to developing a Star Trek style "tricorder", able to monitor a person's medical condition from 40 feet away.

The so-called Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT) is described in glowing terms by the inhouse journal of the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, S&T Snapshots. The DHS S&T boys are people who also intend to give the world the puke ray light-sabre and the lobster-beam scanner. (Cont.)...

 

[CuttingEdge100]

The tricorder, it sounds cool, but I'm wondering if this device would end up being mis-used as some form of "interrogation tool" (You know monitoring various vital signs to determine if a person's telling the truth or lying and stuff) After all this is DHS we're talking about there...

As for the lobster-beam scanner, it strikes me as a device that could easily be used to grossly invade one's privacy... could you imagine a bunch of devices like this placed in the street? Oh God!

 

[Deks]

And here we go with the 'misuse' aspect whenever new technology is invented.

Yes, there is danger of misuse, but that's no reason to live in the dark ages.
Any technology can be misused.
Simple as that.
If we managed thus far, let's hope that we will have the sense to implement new techs in a wise fashion (for the most part).

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Deks,

Well the more advanced some things get, the potential for misuse becomes exponentially greater, therefore more care is required looking at the potential for misuse as well as any benefits it may offer


CuttingEdge100

 

[All Seeing Eye]

So it measures pulse, body temperature and muscle movements such as breathing?

Whoopy Doo.

I can certainly see how this could be misused.

 

[hyzmarca]

Misuse is the right word in this case, rather than abuse. Polygraphs don't work. In determining innocence, they're at about the same as random uninformed guessing. In determining guilt, they're slightly better, but by no means perfect. There are just too many factors that go into vital sign changes for those changes to be of any significant use as an investigative tool.

Using this device as a lie detector would be like wearing mittens on your head.

 

[Trekker4747]

The tricorder, it sounds cool, but I'm wondering if this device would end up being mis-used as some form of "interrogation tool" (You know monitoring various vital signs to determine if a person's telling the truth or lying and stuff) After all this is DHS we're talking about there.

Dammit! People can mis-use pens to stab people!

Why, oh why did that great man Charles C. Bic invent them?!

 

[CuttingEdge100]

hyzmarca,

Well, I don't know how precise the scanner would be. I actually don't even know how it would compare with current diagnostic equipment used in hospitals