| The balance between providing security against | | | | used to create a 3D version of the passenger on |
| threats and protecting our liberty has been fired up | | | | which any hidden items will be revealed. It is somewhat |
| again with the airport body scanner issues raised in the | | | | similar to what you see when luggage is put through a |
| first part of this year. In this article, we take a look at | | | | scanner. |
| the two types of body scanners that are usually | | | | Backscatter scanners work in a similar manner. The |
| employed by security personnel. | | | | difference is x-rays are shot into the body to create |
| Security versus personal privacy. Personal liberty | | | | the image. This in an improvement over the millimeter |
| versus safety. Which should win out in modern | | | | wave scanner in that it will also show organic materials |
| society? There are proponents of each side and they | | | | in addition to the normal body. On the downside, the |
| often change positions depending on the specific facts | | | | image is only shown in two dimensions and the idea of |
| being discussed! As technology continually evolves, the | | | | bombarding the body with x-rays raises health issues. |
| subject is only going to grow more controversial and | | | | Recent studies have shown that the overuse of |
| more heated. Airport body scanners are just the latest | | | | scanning in the medical community through the use of |
| hot topic. | | | | x-rays, MRIs and CT scans may be a health issue. |
| The millimeter wave scanner is deployed in the airports | | | | So, what do these scanners actually show the |
| of many countries for the purpose of performing body | | | | security personnel? Well, the answer is everything...and |
| scans on travelers. The device comes with two | | | | I mean everything. The images can hardly be called |
| antennas that shoot an extremely high frequency radio | | | | titillating, but there is no doubt that a traveler can have |
| wave between the two. The passenger stands in the | | | | absolutely no expectation of privacy when being |
| middle and will often turn a full circle. The waves | | | | scanned. Whether society is ready to accept this level |
| penetrate clothing, but not the body or hard items | | | | of government control is a question for another article. |
| which are reflected. The reflected waves then are | | | | |