Rezwana Islam
Dr.Avis O Anderson
CIS100.0261
4/10/2007
SmartCheck- The New Body Scanning Machine
My research is about the new body scanning machine, known as
SmartCheck, which peeks underneath passengers’ clothing to search for guns,
bombs or liquid explosives. This device went into use on 23rd February, 2007 at
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and will be tested later at airport in Los
Angeles and New York, will screen only volunteers initially. Security officials are
examining the head-to-toe images with a specially trained screener in a closed
booth, hidden from public view. In this device special privacy software
intentionally blurs the image, creating an outline of a body that is clear enough to
see a collarbone, bellybutton or weapon, but flattens details of revealing
contours. Some people already like the device because they want to be safe on
board. However, some people think this is a violation of people’s personal rights.
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Rezwana Islam
Dr.Avis O Anderson
CIS100.0261
4/10/2007
The devices now used at the nation’s airports cannot reliably detect liquid
or plastic explosives. On the other hand, SmartCheck poses no health hazards
and can detect liquid or plastic explosives. According to Security agency and
company officials, “this machine generates about as much radiation as a
passenger would get flying for about two minutes at about 30,000 feet, or in
technical terms, fewer than 10 microRem per scan”. So it shouldn’t be harmful for
our health. A security agency spokeswoman said, “A lot of people aren’t really
comfortable with a Pat-down (another form of scanning)”. So, they may find
SmartCheck as an alternative they may appreciate. The positive side is such a
low dose of radiation is inconsequential, even for a pregnant woman. Moreover,
People wouldn’t have to be worry about the X-ray image because it would be
destroyed immediately.
Even though SmartCheck is a smart device, it has some negative issues
involved in it. Some people think no radiation is even better than even a very low
level. David J. Brenner, A professor of radiation oncology at Columbia University
said that, even though the risk for any individuals is very low, he would still avoid
it. He recommended that pregnant women and young children in particular to
avoid the device. According to Brenner, extra radiation can not do any good to
our body. Another barrier to accept this machine is that it is not strong enough to
penetrate much beyond the skin, so it can not find weapon that may be hidden in
body cavities.
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Rezwana Islam
Dr.Avis O Anderson
CIS100.0261
4/10/2007
SmartCheck poses some ethical and legal challenges. In order to search
for guns, bombs, and explosives, SmartCheck peeks underneath passengers
clothing. Some people found it objectionable because it is a violation of peoples’
personal rights. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union have raised
similar objection, calling the X-ray scan a “virtual strip- search”, and have urged
Congress to prohibit its use for routine screening.
After considering all the legal, ethical, positive, and negative issues related
to SmartCheck, I think we should consider it for the sake of our safety. I am
planning to market this technological innovation by talking to people about its’
necessities. Not all passengers have to go through this device. This machine will
be used only when passengers are pulled aside for a more thorough check,
known as secondary screening, after passing through a metal detector. We all
remember London- based plot last summer when some terrorists planed to use
liquid explosive to blow up airlines headed to the United States. So we should
have efficient scanning machine at the airport for the safety on board. For
enhancing the security of the airport SmartCheck is beyond expectation.
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Rezwana Islam
Dr.Avis O Anderson
CIS100.0261
4/10/2007
Works cited
Biello, David. “The Naked Truth: Is Passenger Scanner a Terrorist Trap Or
Virtual Strip Search?” Scientific American.01 March. 2007.30 March. 2007.
< http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2007/04/03/shift_airport_x.html >.
Gablin, Paul, Eric, Lipton. “New Airport X-rays Scan Bodies, Not Just
Bags”. The New York Times on the Web.24 Feb. 2007.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/24/us/24scan.html>.
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