Whole Body Scanner Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Whole Body Scanner - Term Paper Example This paper looks to discuss these new machines and their impact and repercussions. Whole Body Scanner Airplane passenger screening had not changed for a long time but the events that occurred on 11th of September 2001 caused a drastic change in the airplane security planning. In the past screening were more focused on passengers entering the lounges and so on with detectors specified to detect metallic objects and x-ray machines used to scan the items for carry-on purposes (Elias, 2010). After the terrorist attacks taking place from time to time and after the recent attack in the Russian airport there has been a growing need to improve security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the U.S Department of Homeland Security has had to face a number of barriers in order to make their screening process more effective. Airport traffic has been on the increase for a long time and screening processes make it cumbersome for the passengers. There also needs to be a balance be tween the needs of the passengers and the security. Scares continue to take place even now as with the happening on 25th December 2009 when a Nigerian man attempted to ignite an explosive device while on board a plane heading to Detroit (O’Connor & Schmitt, 2009). Airports across the world are looking towards new technology to help security staff catch suspicious people and detect object deemed illegal on flights now. The problems that arise out of these technological advancements in airports are many such as privacy concerns, health concerns and subjection of minors to the scanning. On the other hand such technology can prove helpful in foiling terrorist plans, so there needs to be a weighing of the harms and benefits. Imaging technology has been bought and installed in the various airports all across the United States. According to the TSA there are two types of imaging technology that is being used, the millimeter wave and the backscatter x-ray. As of now, according to the TSA, there are 486 of these imaging devices that are being used across 78 airports in the United States (Transportation Security Administration). The millimeter wave scanner is used to scan the whole body and is used in the detection of objects that may be concealed in or under a person’s clothing. The millimeter scanner is cylindrical in shape with panels which contain scanners in them that rotate around the individual and produces an image of the individual. The scanner emits radio waves that pass through an individuals clothing’s and then returns an image of what is beneath the clothes. The scanner comes back with a picture of the human body which is generally what the security personnel hope to see, however, if other items are seem on the scanner then this may well be a reason for unease. The scanner does not take up too much time to do its job. The millimeter scanner produces a 3D image of the person being scanned that can be rotated and zoomed if the need be. Th e other scanner in use is the backscatter scanner which is what passengers in the United States will see more often. This scanner consists of two boxes opposite to each other with enough space for a person to stand in between them. These boxes take x-rays of the person in a time of about twenty seconds. The electromagnetic waves that are being emitted by the boxes are absorbed by the body but if there are any foreign bodies present on the person then these will show on the scans. There are some concerns that the waves being emitted are a form of radiation and may be dangerous for a person. This scanner takes a 2D image of the scanned person (Cynthia, 2010). The use of