I'll cover this point by point.
Originally Posted by
Sydneysider
As I was writing about WBI machines this morning it occurred to me that there is a lack of understanding around the data aspects of whole body imaging. I'm not an IT guy, but know a lot of you work in that field. Would you help us all understand? Here's my line of thinking:
* We already know TSA was lying about the machines not being able to store or send data
* You can't create an image without some sort of file being created, right? Even when I open a pdf email attachment there is a file created (Temporary Internet Files for Windows users). When Comrade Janet talks about "erasing" the image - you can't erase something that doesn't exist. So a file IS created. How is it being erased? Just trashed/recycled or actually over-written?
For the image to be visible, I'm going to guess that some sort of image is created, probalby a .tif image, which has better resolution. When it is "erased", all that's removed is the pointer to the data in the Master File Table. Any forensic Computer tech with a modicum of knowledge could very easy recover the image from whatever medium is used for storage, even if its temporary, as long as the data isn't overwritten.
Originally Posted by
Sydneysider
Which leads to the following questions:
* What is the storage capability on these machines? Is it so small that every new image over-writes that last one? Or enough to hold a day's, week's or month's worth of images?
That would depend. I know if I were making the specifications, I'd demand anywhere from 500gb to 1tb of storage, as .tif images can get large. That would allow, easily, 30 days of images. I'm going to guess there is some sort of remote, mass storage device that the images could be ported to, probably off site, a 2-3 tb device removable to an offsite storage facility. Drobos are good for this type of storage.
Originally Posted by
Sydneysider
* Who has access and control over retrieving these images?
That's the $64k question. I'm going to guess a TSA systems administrator with a decent clearance, the FSD, DHS mucky-mucks. I'd limit it as much as possible if it were me.
Originally Posted by
Sydneysider
Would love a technical perspective on this.
The NoS would be a mini-computer, similar to whats on your desk, driving the scanning device and the CPU to turn that image into what the TSO sees on his screen, then saving it.
The CPU would prolly be higher end, I wouldn't want Windows as the OS, 4gb of RAM minimum.
But then again, I don't want them at all.
I do Level II/III Desktop support, and have spec'ed out systems for all sorts of things...feel free to post more questions.