RSSToday in Junk Science
December 2nd, 2008 | View Comments
Security experts say focus is shifting from analyzing the content of carry-ons to analyzing the content of passengers’ intentions and emotions.
“We are seeing a needed paradigm shift when it comes to security,” says Omer Laviv, CEO of ATHENA GS3, an Israeli-based security company.
“This ‘brain-fingerprinting,’ or technology which checks for behavioral intent, is much more developed than we think.”…
Several Israeli-based technology companies are developing detection systems that pick up signs of emotional strain, a psychological red flag that a passenger may intend to commit an act of terror. Speedier and less intrusive than metal detectors, these systems may eventually restore some efficiency to the airplane boarding process.
One firm, WeCU (pronounced “We See You”) Technologies, employs a combination of infra-red technology, remote sensors and imagers, and flashing of subliminal images, such as a photo of Osama bin Laden. Developers say the combination of these technologies can detect a person’s reaction to certain stimuli by reading body temperature, heart rate and respiration, signals a terrorist unwittingly emits before he plans to commit an attack.
With these technologies, the emphasis is on speed and seamlessness. Ehud Givon, CEO of WeCU, envisions a day when a passenger can breeze through a security checkpoint in 20 to 30 seconds.
Do these people not have a psychologist on staff? Because this is total garbage. Expensive fancy garbage, to be sure, but garbage nonetheless.
- Subliminal messages do not work, except in movies. If it’s not perceived, the content doesn’t get processed, there’s no response. End of story.
- They’ve tried this before; they’re called polygraphs. Polygraphs do not work, except to scare someone who doesn’t know they don’t work.
- There is serious base-rate neglect here (a common feature across the entire airport security rigamarole). Face it, “I am about to commit a terrorist act” causes an infinitesimal amount of “emotional strain” compared to say: fired from job, new baby, fertility problems, wedding planning, fight with spouse, clinical depression, chronic illness, 401K loses half its value one year before retirement, etc. If they’re looking for signs of “emotional strain” they’re going to wind up flagging every third person. At least.
Yvonne posted this on December 2nd, 2008 @ 5:52pm in Psychology/Neuroscience, Science | Permalink to "Today in Junk Science"
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1. Keith » December 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Great. Now I have to take a Voight-Kampff test before getting on an airplane!?!
My mother? I’ll tell you about my mother…