Don’t Tread On Me: New Shoe Scanner Technology
Source: politico.com
The technology required for passengers to go through pre-flight security screening without taking off their shoes is just months away, says an industry source.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday at a POLITICO Playbook breakfast that this would soon become a reality.
“We are moving towards an intelligence and risk-based approach to how we screen,” Napolitano told interviewer Mike Allen. “I think one of the first things you will see over time is the ability to keep your shoes on.”
Napolitano didn’t discuss the technology being considered or a specific time frame.
But Safran Morpho, a firm that was formerly a part of General Electric’s Security division, told POLITICO that their model could be mass produced in a matter of months and that a prototype was already ready.
Morpho’s device would scan shoes in three ways: using technology similar to MRIs used in medical settings; explosives trace scanners; and traditional magnetometer metal detection.
“We have a near-production prototype that we’re comfortable putting into [mass] production… we’re talking about months,” said Morpho spokesman Steve Hill.
Scanning shoes has been a concern since attempted shoe bomber Richard Reid attempted to light explosives in his shoes while on a transatlantic flight in December 2001.
In March of this year, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was soliciting proposals for a shoe scanning system “capable of detecting threat objects concealed in footwear without requiring passengers to remove their footwear as they pass through a security checkpoint.”Past attempts at implementing shoe scanning technology have been tried in the past, but have failed to reach widespread implementation.
In 2007, the Transportation Security Administration tested an integrated kiosk made by General Electric that would scan the shoes of registered, secure passengers, but the TSA determined that the kiosks did “not meet minimum security standards.” In 2008, the TSA tested a shoe scanner design made by L3 Communications - this also turned out to be not suitable for wide implementation.
Security expert and Chief Security Technology Officer of British Telecom Bruce Schneier derided the whole process as unnecessary.
“This is pure security theatre,” said Schneier, who wants the government to put their resources into intelligence, investigation work and emergency response efforts. “By screening shoes we force the bad guys to make a minor change in their tactics or target. They don’t make us safer… If they decide to target stadiums next, shoe scanning at airports won’t make a bit of difference.”
Article from: politico.com
Video from: YouTube.com
Ed Note:CLASSIC ’Problem, Reaction, Solution’ scenario. They created the problem of the pain-in-the-butt shoe removal security checks (theatre). Reaction? The public were irritated by this - though not enough to actually do anything but moan. The solution? New, more invasive technology to allegedly see into your shoes (and more).
"...the Transportation Security Administration tested an integrated kiosk made by General Electric that would scan the shoes of registered, secure passengers..."
WHY would you need to scan the shoes of passengers who are "registered and secured"? How did they gain the assumedly trustworthy status of "registered and secured’" while obviously still being seen as a potential threat - enough to have their body and shoes scanned?
None of it makes any rational sense.
~E
Please Remove Your Shoes Movie.com
