Originally Posted by
Caradoc
Not really. The hardware has a difficult time determining real anomalies, as opposed to pleats in skirts, creases in underwear, beaded sweat on the skin under the clothing, et cetera.
Of course, once a false anomaly has been "detected," going to Step 2 for resolution is no improvement.
Actually the machinery inspection systems that I work with have exactly the same problem. They are designed to detect elements in the data that do not appear to match the expected elements in the data. Many times the anomalies are normal things and of no concern. That does not make them false positives as they are often called here. More specifically they are data anomalies that require resolution.
That is where I come in. I examine the inspection system indications and make take additional data. I determine exactly what caused the system to create the alarm. If it is not a problem in the machine to be corrected, I forget about it and it is no problem. If the data is truly indicative of a problem, the following steps are put into action. I determine the exact nature of the problem, its severity, an approximate time to failure and the repairs needed to correct it.
But, therein lies the problem. My test subjects are machines. They neither know nor care that I am doing additional probing. They have no concern that the anomaly generated may create the impression that they have criminal intent. They do not have places to go, people to see and flights to catch. They are unfeeling and uncaring.
Applying the same principles to people creates a new set of difficulties beyond just determining what the anomaly is. The people become suspects. They are subjected to additional testing and probing. They are delayed when a delay can be detrimental and even costly. The are, after all, people and not machines.
The system is designed to resolve anomalies as if the tested is a machine with no cares, feelings, or other complicating factors. We become systems for analysis. We lose our humanity and become objects to be inspected.
The system as such attacks human dignity and modesty. It insults our sense of what is the right way and the wrong way to treat other human beings with emotions and feelings.
The gropes, pat downs, ETD swabs, extra bag checks and other dehumanized procedures are the result a procedural system designed to work reliably with inanimate and non-human tested equipment and devices. It fails miserably to address basic human emotion when applied to people.