₦airaland Forum

below is what TSA says on this scanner of thing. It seems less harmful, read on.


http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20091231/tbs-us-tec-airport-screening-q-a-1d79e03.html


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Questions and answers about full-body scanners By JOELLE TESSLER,AP Technology Writer - Thursday, December 31
WASHINGTON – Travelers still getting used to removing their shoes in public and pouring shampoo into tiny bottles may soon have to adjust to something new in the airport security line _ giant machines that that scan their bodies for anything a terrorist might use to cause harm during a flight.

High-tech, full-body scanning machines are already in use at a handful of airports, but they may become more common as security officials around the world respond to the attempted attack on an airliner on Christmas Day. The Netherlands announced Wednesday that the scanners would be used for all flights heading from Amsterdam's airport to the United States, and an official in Nigeria later said that country planned to buy full-body scanners too.

What exactly are these machines, and how do they work? What are the drawbacks to using these types of scans?

Here are some questions and answers about the devices.

___

Q: How do these full-body scanners work?

A: The two main types of scanners are "millimeter wave" and "backscatter" machines. Millimeter wave units send radio waves over a person and produce a three-dimensional image by measuring the energy reflected back. Backscatter machines use low-level X-rays to create a two-dimensional image of the body.

___

Q: What sorts of things can they find?

A: The machines are designed to uncover what a physical pat-down could turn up but a metal detector wouldn't find. That includes plastic or chemical explosives and nonmetallic weapons in a pocket or strapped to someone's body.

The machines would also find guns, knives and other metallic objects that would set off a metal detector.

___

Q: What can they not find?

A: Generally, the machines can't find items stashed in a body cavity. So the scanners wouldn't stop at least one common smuggling method used by drug traffickers.
___

Q: How common are they at airports?

A: Because of fears that the scans infringe on travelers' dignity by revealing bodily contours, European officials have generally limited the machines to tests in airports or train stations.

In U.S. airports, the Transportation Security Administration has begun expanding the use of full-body scanning machines, although passengers can opt for a physical pat-down instead. The TSA has 40 in place, just bought 150 and plans to buy 300 more.

Six of the machines are being used instead of a metal detector at airports in Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas; Miami; San Francisco; Salt Lake City; and Tulsa, Okla. The other 34 are used for secondary screening of people who set off a metal detector in Atlanta; Dallas/Fort Worth; Denver; Detroit; Indianapolis; Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla.; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and two airports in the Washington area: Baltimore/Washington and Reagan National.

___

Q: Is there a way to make the scans less revealing?

A: The technology has evolved to reduce the clarity of identifying details. The systems blur faces, or they produce body images that look like chalk outlines.

Amsterdam's airport is moving ahead with full-body scanners after trying new software that projects a stylized image _ rather than an actual picture _ onto a computer screen. It highlights the area of the body where objects are concealed in pockets or under the clothing.

The TSA says it uses logistical methods to safeguard privacy. Full-body images are viewed in a walled-off location not visible to the public. The security officer assisting the passenger cannot view the image, and the officer who views the image doesn't see the passenger. If the officer viewing the image sees something of concern, he notifies the agent who is with the passenger to do further screening.
The machines can't store or print images, and the TSA says officers who view the images are not allowed to take cameras or cell phones into the screening rooms.

___

Q: How long does it take to be scanned?

A: The machines are getting faster but still can take up to 15 seconds to scan a traveler, which makes the process slower than using metal detectors.

TSA officials note that for some people _ those with medical devices that typically set off metal detectors _ these machines could be quicker because those passengers wouldn't have to make multiple passes through the machine or be pulled aside for additional screening, as they often have to with metal detectors.

___

Q: Do security officials hope to use the full-body scanners on every person getting on a flight?

A: At the moment, that's probably not realistic _ in the U.S. alone, there are 730 checkpoints with 2,100 security lanes at the nation's 450 airports, and there are thousands more lanes at airports around the world. Cost may be an issue _ the machines can be $150,000 to $200,000 each.

Taking Amsterdam, where the machines are already in place, as an example: The airport's 15 scanners won't be enough to screen every U.S.-bound passenger, so pat-down searches will still be used. It remains to be seen whether that strategy will be copied at other airports.

___

Q: Do the scanners pose health risks, especially for frequent travelers?

A: The TSA says the technology is harmless.

Millimeter wave energy is common in the world, and the TSA says the scanners produce far less energy than a cell phone. The X-rays in backscatter machines are weak; TSA says the radiation is equivalent to what a person gets in two minutes of flying on an airplane.

If someone fears the technology, the TSA offers a physical pat-down.
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Associated Press Writer Ann Sanner in Washington contributed to this report.

___

SEFAGO:
Yeah, it seems these scanners are highly radioactive. Cancer incorporated. Man, i dont plan to travel very often then.

especially in a place where anyone can practice radiography like Naija.

whitesturd:
uhmm didnt know someone has been dying to see my pweety face .ok wud fink about it

Hurry up and tell me when you do, rflmao

whitesturd:
Happy new year guys.but u no dey go new year church?oya yall be goin b4 d pastor finishes the sermon and leave this thread to its rightful owner,me

make a New Year resolution now and turn your face on your profile, rflmao

^^^^ I hear you

GoldenS:
olodo! how can GOLDEN SYRENE be yoruba! google it!

I mean are you, Golden Syrene, a Yoruba girl or woman?

GoldenS:
awwww, thank u are u refering to the '''ABI O''' or the '''GOLDEN SYRENE'''

ref is to  "abi", so is Goldensyrene Yoruba?

GoldenS:
abi o! GOLDEN SYRENE!

That sounds Yoruba or Lagosian, which one

^^^^ @fayesik, mimi kan ko si. O see gan an, mo lero wipe maalu lonje nanma, I know better now, Thanks a lot.

Happy New Year to all.

Physicist:
I have 400,000 shares (worth about 8 Million Naira) when I bought them. They are now almost worthless. PASTOR AKINGBOLA!!!!!! OLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When ICB dropped to N27 from N44 its was this same Akinbola that was shouting all over the place that people should stop selling that thing would soon turn to better, not knowing that he had paid himself up,
Yet some people go about shouting Vanguard Newspaper insinuated Northern Agenda.

Afam:
When I praise Sanusi people don't understand. Without his intervention things would have been really really bad.

Personally, once someone tells me he/she is a born again I dust my shoes and take off.

Yeah, once a person bring religious, ethnics or family sentiments into business, its time to STOP and re evaluate your stand. lol

OMG!!!! Nigeria is now showing the world the real meaning of separation of powers. Jonathan - Heading Executives, Mark heading Legislators and Kutugi heading Judiciary. The world should learn from us  In fact 5 professorial seats in Harvard should be created to study how Nigeria was ruled in December, 2009. rflmao.

OMG!!!! I don't think there is power vacuum in Nigeria instead we now showing the world the real meaning of separation of powers. Jonathan - Heading Executives, Mark heading Legislators and Kutugi heading Judiciary. abi una no see as in swear in im successor yesterday?  The world should learn from us  In fact 5 professorial seats in Harvard should be created to study how Nigeria was ruled in December, 2009. rflmao.

This is part of aftermaths of poor education system. Most of us who went to school in the 80s went to public school so we stay at home with parents. Nowadays lot of children go to boarding houses too early in their ages to get supposedly good education since public schools are no longer prefered so they pick all kinds of attitudes. Schools too tend not to be too strict for fear of loosing patronage.

Which area is the reference because it already 5am in Melborne Jan 1, 2010 in Australia ooooooooo

Wole Soyinka is one contestant. Kongi is over 70 years and still very sound and healthy, travels a lot too.

ezeagu:
I thought unu's flag is this:

[img]http://eh.lenin.ru/flags/4af/ethnic/yor-fe.gif[/img]

The one you posted looks like a restaurants flag.

Uhnmmm looked like modified Iraq, or UAE flags

EmperorOlu:
I would prefer the grand empire of odua and the capital will be ondo or ogun not lagos.The new government will develop a new city by the sea in any of those states.All citizens must be registered and issued an ID card so that we can identify the hausa and ibos who will now need a temporary residence permit if they wish to remain in odua.

Here you go again, Yooorubaaa, "Ai ti mu eru an so wipe Ado laa ta fun" meaning you are already sharing loots even before winning the war  

I am a Chemical Engineer too but now in O&G

body cream

UMUOBI:
Can someone remind Turai and Yaraconfused that someday their bodies will be wrapped up with mat like that of Maryam Babangida

I am reminding you and myself now that we too are getting close, day by day. So do your best within your own area of influence, I would try and do mine also, so help me God.

noetic15:
were u not taught in in secondary school? ask olabs to enlighten u

Oduduwa and his co-travellers were written to have come from East, but the they met people in Ile Ife who were already being guided by Agonniregun, Ifa Priest who told them their leader would coming from somewhere and so on and so on. So all Yorubas are from East

food condiments

MrCrackles:
WTF is Abula

abula is when two soup are mixed over Amala most times ewedu and gbegiri (from beans). very delicious especially with goat meat.

You can have anything you want when you go to the right place, whether in Houston, Dallas, NY, Detroit, Chicago, London, Dublin, Dubai etc. Places with sizeable Nigeria population lack nothing, fyi.

_{eniyan mi goodass, odun yoo ba wa layo oo, oju wa yoo maa ri odun ooo amin.}

@topic: Rolex wrist watches

Modern Yoruba Proverbs

goodwill ambassador

event planner

fashion designer

cantell:
@All,
Patriotic my arse!
US reprisal would have been so hard for him to bear. They would have shoved their foot down his throat!
Hero indeed!

Lagosboy:
The same foot that was shoved on the Bin laden family and business emire in the US
The same foot that was shoved down the throat of the 15 saudi 9/11 hijackers
The same foot that was shoved down the throat of jonny walkers(Taliban fighter) dad a US justice
the same foot that was shoved down the 7/7 hijackers parents

Guy give me a break, US is not Nigeria where a thief steals and his whole family are arrested.

They even helped the Bin Laden family to fly out out America the same day of 9/11 when all US airports were shut down. US is sure deal with issues not sentiments, at least officially.