DHS Mobile Lab To Test Terrorist Sensors on Citizens

[Ian David]

Getting inside the Democratic or Republican national convention requires connections and a badge, but in the summer of 2008, it might require also require not setting off remote, cutting edge sensors designed to test whether or not you have terrorist intents. The Department of Homeland Security is currently seeking bids to build a portable lab that can be installed at special events whereitcan test new ways to determine if a person is a threat -- including using observational techniques designed to spot a nervous person, remote thermal cameras, biometric equipment and physiological sensors.

The effort is led by DHS's Advanced Research Project Agency (HSARPA), which is the anti-terrorism agency's version of the military's cutting edge research arm known as DARPA -- which has funded research ranging from the Total Information Awareness data mining project to ARPANET, the precursor to the internet.

While Homeland Security won't talk about the Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST) Demonstration Laboratory, which it is currently accepting proposals for from bidders, citing procurement rules, the idea is to create a mobile lab that can be moved from a presidential funeral to an Amtrak station. Citizens would be funneled into the reconfigurable lab, and screeners would use a combination of current screening technology and cutting-edge tools, which could be anything from lie detectors to brain-wave scanners,toscreen them. Researchers would be able to watch from an observation point and use a computer lab in the back to crunch the results.

Bidders had to submit white papers by early this month and DHS expects to award a contract by the end of April. An initial prototype will then be due in 6 months, and the final version delivered in a year.



More:
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/03/dhs_mobile_lab_.html

[rodeodance]

1. this is beyond scary!!

[AndyTiedye]

2. And They Don't Think THE MACHINE Will Make People Nervous?

new ways to determine if a person is a threat -- including using observational techniques designed to spot a nervous person, remote thermal cameras, biometric equipment and physiological sensors.

[Faux pas]

3. Why don't they just round us all up now? Oh wait, they can't. The

National Guard is busy else where. F-a-doodle-do.

[Canuckistanian]

4. A "Terrorist Intent" Detector?

They've lost it.

Call in the guys with the nets.

[AndyTiedye]

5. They Can Use a Very Simple Sensor for The Repiglican Convention

Just scan for any brain activity at all. If they find any, they know don't you belong in the Repiglican Convention.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

6. I wonder if nervousness and

being excited would register as being the same? And how accurate is this really? What if you're simply standing near someone who is "nervous"? Would it mistakenly identify you?

:shrug:

edit: typo

[peacebird]

7. thermal scans - hot & sweaty = nervous, eh? Tell that to menopausal women!

:eyes: