The Transportation Safety Administration has announced a Christmas surprise for American travelers – Phoenix' Sky Harbor International Airport will taking it all off airline passengers with the planned test of the X-ray technology known as backscatter.
The X-ray basically reveals everything on a traveler's body expect for his or her clothing. The technology is not new, but it hasn't been implemented in the U.S. before because of privacy concerns.
The Transportation Security Administration said it has found a way to refine the machine's images so that the normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still being effective in detecting bombs and other threats.
The security agency's website indicates that the technology will be used initially as a secondary screening measure, meaning that only those passengers who first fail the standard screening process will be directed to the X-ray area.
Backscatter is already being used in prisons and by drug enforcement. TSA says backscatter is able to detect plastic or liquid explosives and other non-metallic weapons that conventional technology can miss. The machines have been tested at London's Heathrow Airport.
It’s important to note that Backscatter technology produces images while emitting a substantially lower radiation dose to both the cargo and the environment than other X-ray inspection systems.
If they are professionals they should consider doing the job right that means safety first productivity last. But there must be a balance so that they aren’t going to lose money.
I happen to know something about X-rays and they are quite dangerous in large quantities. Now, imagine a businessman forced to travel two times a week, which means four X-rays exposures. This could be really unhealthful.
The technology already is being used in prisons and by drug enforcement agents, and has been tested at London’s Heathrow Airport. Some say the high-resolution images — which clearly depict the outline of the passenger’s body, plus anything attached to it, such as jewelry — are too invasive.