X-ray Machines

[Warren]

Why are people making a big deal out of these new xray machines?

(link might not be safe)
http://www.livescience.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=061201_ap_airport_xray_02.jpg&cap=Susan+Hallowell%2C+the+director+of+the+Transpo rtation+Security+Administration%27s+security+labor atory%2C+allows+her+body+to+be+X-rayed+by+the+%22backscatter%22+machine+at+the+Tran sportation+Security+Administration+in+Egg+Harbor+T ownship%2C+N.J.%2C+Wednesday%2C+June+25%2C+2003.+C redit%3A+AP+Photo%2FBrian+Branch-Price


its not like you can tell who it is are any detail about her body.

[Gus]

its not like you can tell who it is or any detail about her body.But the person operating the machine knows who you are. You're standing right there. She can see your junk. And she's laughing. She could be laughing about anything, but she's looking at your junk so in your mind she must be laughing because you are "small in the pants".

That's why some people don't like the idea of these machines.

[JohnJr]

Papers, please.

I mean, pasties, please.

-John

[Otto]

How come this story comes out every 8-9 months and nobody ever seems to have any recollection of it from the last time?

Seriously, I first read about the backscatter thing in 2002 and I think that article had this exact same picture.

This is old hat. The controversy over it is basically over. They've had the tech for 4 years and have not been using it because it's unnecessary. Existing security screenings (such as they are) would pick up anything this would.

[sonnik]

Someone should invent metallic underwear and sell it for this reason.

[InigoMontoya]

This is old hat. The controversy over it is basically over. They've had the tech for 4 years and have not been using it because it's unnecessary. Existing security screenings (such as they are) would pick up anything this would.

Huh? I thought the new stuff was capable of picking up plastics/ceramics/etc. Am I misremembering?

[Otto]

Huh? I thought the new stuff was capable of picking up plastics/ceramics/etc. Am I misremembering?
Okay, true, the backscatter stuff can indeed show a picture that will allow trained people to identify that sort of thing quickly.

But it's not new, was my point. I read articles that were virtually identical to the one linked to in the OP over 4 years ago.

Anyway, have there been any incidents where these sort of devices would have made any difference? I mean, you can have all the technology in the world, the problem isn't in the ability of the tech to identify the stuff. The people using the tech are where the flaws are. I mean, yes, I could take a ceramic knife onboard an aircraft... But I could kill a man with a pencil in the neck too. Anything can be made into a weapon, as prisons have proven so well.

You want real security on the plane? Give knives to everybody onboard. :)

Edit: Okay, the article is only 3.5 years old. My bad: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/26/tech/main560541.shtml
BTW, that woman in the picture is the same one in the xray backscatter photo.