Airport Security Prize Announced

Reservoir Hill writes "Verified Identity Pass, a firm that offers checkpoint services at airports, has announced a $500,000 award for any solution that will make airport security checks quicker and simpler for passengers. The cash prize will go to any individual, company or institution that can get customers through airport security 15% faster, at a cost of less than 25 cents per passenger, using technology or processes that will be approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Passengers must not need to remove their clothes or shoes, something that slows down processing significantly. "We're looking at moving things that are conceptual or in the lab to things that we can deploy," says company spokesman Jason Slibeck and added that over 150 individuals, start-ups, defense contractors and universities have shown an interest in the prize. One promising procedure is mass spectroscopy, which involves analyzing the mass-charge ratio of ions on a swab sample taken from a passenger's clothing or air collected from around them to spot traces of substances including explosives or drugs. The Pre-Registration Package Information Sheet is available online."

Comments

Re:Eliminate it?

[palegray.net]

Everyone (at least here in America) seems so focused on preventing people from getting on board a plane with a weapon. I think this kinda misses the point of a big part of airport security: the airport itself. This site gives a chronological list of some major security incidents in airports; it's not pretty stuff.

Normally I don't respond to AC

[geekoid]

But since so many people harbor the fallacy that firing a gun I'll make an exception.

I can tell you exactly what will happen. A quite hiss. You can not create a fiery disaster on a plane with a handgun, or a shot gun. Also, the person being shot at will die.

Of course, you have normal procedure.

I've seen it, so unless you can provide some counter evidence, STFU.

All this ignoring the fact the O2 masks are useless. They ahve never saved a life. Any aircraft incident large enough to cause deployment means the aircraft will desend rapidly, preferably under control, but not always.

Since there is air at the altitude the plane is flying, and the fact that in about 90 seconds you will be at an altitude with sufficient air, they really aren't need.

All other incidents render them moot.

Re:How's that then?

[jrumney]

The fact that scientists in a lab had limited success producing a combination of chemicals that could produce a small explosion (enough of a pop to make people panic, not take down a plane or kill anyone onboard) when they were asked to determine the "safe quantities" for TSA, shows that the plot was never realistic in the first place. Its a draconian restriction for an unrealistic threat.