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Superman eyes: TSA's device to see through clothes in an airport near you
When Catherine first posted about TSA's body scan device, I thought that the term "Big Brother is watching " had reached a new level of meaning. The machine is one that a passenger steps though so that millimeter waves can be bounced off his or her body, thus capturing a fairly perfect image of the person's exact shape sans clothes.
This isn't the naked-as-a-jay bird, in your birthday suit image, but this grainy, fuzzy image that you see here. Still and all, do you see what I see? I think the person has an "inny" navel. Or is it an "outy?"
The machines must be doing some good where they are being used already, one would hope, since TSA is springing for more of them.
Engadget picked up on the story that machines are being installed in Dallas, Detroit, Miami and Las Vegas towards the end of June. The machine was used for the first time at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Denver, and JFK in New York have had Superman eyes capabilities for a few months now. If you have a plastic or ceramic gun and think you're going to take it on an airplane, think again. TSA is on to you.
Personally, I'm going for a pat down if given a choice. There's something about this machine creeps me out a bit. However, in this USA Today article, one official said that the body imaging capabilities are just being tapped.
Hmmm. Here's an idea. Come up with a machine that also does health screening. While it's searching out weapons it can search out cancer. People who pass through the machines would then get a free health report printout. Just think, eventually you might be able to take a flight a year and do without that colonoscopy, mammogram or prostate exam. It's just a thought.
More crazy airline news:
- Look out! Your airline is cutting capacity
- Airline to charge customers by pound
- No overweight crew allowed on this airline
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Vic Jun 8th 2008 11:37AM
theis is a new level of privacy invasion on the behalf of big business. An already sinking airline industry.
We have:
Air marshalls
Pilots with pistols
Cockpits with barriers
Cavity searches
Unlocked and damaged travel bags
Shoe removal
and no peanuts-going to heck in a hand basket:{
sgentilejr Jun 8th 2008 11:40AM
Actually it is a BIG IMPROVEMENT over requesting passangers submit to a strip search.
Buckwheat Jun 8th 2008 11:42AM
AND THE TSA PEOPLE RUN AND MASTURBATE ON THEIR BREAKS LOL !
Dog Doggy Jun 8th 2008 12:48PM
No they don't. They don't wait until their breaks!
Cliff Glade Jun 8th 2008 11:45AM
The machine is only as good as the user, and as a very frequent flier I have found that most all TSA agents have substandard intelligence
Nicole Jun 8th 2008 5:35PM
I totally agree. The last time I was at an airport I was directed to go through a metal detector with my belt on several times AFTER I told them that I had a belt on and asked if I should take it off. Then after that, I was running far behind my group because of the delay at the metal detector and then when we got to where they scan our carry ons. I put my bag down on the table and started to walk on, but the woman running the machine grabbed me by the arm and yelled at me to put my bag on the conveyor myself or I wouldn't have a carry on bag.
I have never been treated like that in my life. To say the least I asked for a manager on duty, and he was no more help!
campgal Jun 8th 2008 12:42PM
i rememember you SHORTY! !
Buckwheat Jun 8th 2008 11:41AM
AND THE TSA PEOPLE ALL RUN TO THE REST ROOM AND MASTURBATE ON THEIR BREAKS LOL !
Rande Jun 8th 2008 11:46AM
I'll be sure to take some viagra before going through one of those scanners. Might as well give those agents a cheap thrill.
kitty Jun 8th 2008 11:53AM
Geezzzzz, I hope they don't save the images to compare them after you've returned from your vacation. I can hear them now "tisk, tisk, too many trips to the Sundae bar???" Next time avoid the midnight buffet chubbo""
Jeni Jun 8th 2008 11:59AM
eeeewwwwww!!!! So does my 10 year old daughter have to go through this machine?????????? I WOULD
HOPE NOT!!!!!!!!
0fficercwinslow Jun 8th 2008 12:06PM
i fly on a regular basis and see no problem with this.only folks that have to worry are those trying to hide something(or those trying to keep their "shortcomings" from being known-lol)
inyoureyes122902 Jun 8th 2008 12:12PM
I don't see the big deal, it doesn't actually show your body, it's just a grainy image, like an ultrasound really. You can get the general idea of someone's body just by looking at them while they have clothes on. People need to get a grip. It's not like it shows exactly the color or detail of how your labia or balls look.
tony Jun 8th 2008 12:13PM
NOW THATS WHAT I CALL A JOB WITH BENEFITS
lola Jun 8th 2008 12:32PM
u have real issues. u r such a pervert
Maureen Jun 8th 2008 12:13PM
Gheez people! It's not as if they know who you are, where you live or anything else personel when they're screening you.
boss Jun 8th 2008 12:22PM
Maureen:
You have to give your boarding pass to every security station you go through. There's enough mentally deranged people in the world for one to decide he's got a crush on some woman he fancies walking through the scanner. He's got your name, flight info, and possibly your address in his hands while you walk through it.
I think you are wrong in your assessment. But, you know, we all can wait till that actually happens. Give it a year or so.
Casey Jun 8th 2008 2:43PM
Your point is true, Maureen. The people scanning you do not know you, where you live, or anything about you.
I for one don't often show off my 'naked' body to random strangers.
Usually doctors, who for the most part, take their job seriously and act mature and responsible to even the most embarrassed nude patient. But even so, these doctors usually know personal things about you as well as who you are. So being nude in front of a doctor isn't so bad, really.
While the photo shows only a grainy image, it still looks pretty precise on the shapes. Furthermore, I quote this article, "However, in this USA Today article, one official said that the body imaging capabilities are just being tapped." which implies they are looking to 'improve' the machine's capabilities. What looks like a grainy image now may look like a nude photograph later.
I think I'll always prefer to show off my nude body to someone I at least have gotten to know. I won't be joining nudist camps, and I won't feel right having a half-brained airline employee staring at my shit. Not without a couple dates.
But, to each, their own.
Bill Hill Jun 8th 2008 12:15PM
Well,,,I don't care much for flying and this is a good reason not to.
Helen Jun 8th 2008 12:23PM
TSA agents are not going to remember each body shape. If it keeps someone off the plane who wants to take it down, I am all for it.