Tech & Biz

Body Scanning Technology Could Detect Terrorists

by Terri Potratz | September 25, 2008 at 09:41 am

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The US Department of Homeland Security is in the early stages of developing a body scanning technology which will detect hostile intent by examining a number of physical and physiological factors. Sensors and imagers will scan the entire body to measure body temperature, facial expressions, and heart and breathing rate.

The technology, developed by the Human Factors Division of US Homeland Security's Directorate for Science and Technology, would be used at border checkpoints, airports and special events that require security screening, the Daily Telegraph reported.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the technology, dubbed Future Attribute Screening Technology, or FAST, deploys a range of "innovative physiological and behavioural technologies" to pick up "indications of malintent or the intent or desire to cause harm".

At an equestrian centre in Maryland, 140 paid volunteers walked through a pair of trailers kitted out with a battery of FAST sensors, including cameras, infrared heat sensors and an eyesafe laser radar, called a Bio-Lidar, that measures pulse and breathing rate from a distance.

Some subjects were told to act shifty, be evasive, deceptive and hostile. And many were detected. "We're still very early on in this research, but it is looking very promising," says DHS science spokesman John Verrico. "We are running at about 78% accuracy on mal-intent detection, and 80% on deception."

They're even working on a $2.6 million mobile version of FAST - the FAST Mobile Module, or FAST M2, which could be deployed anywhere.