WASHINGTON: Once upon a time, people could fly the friendly skies and not worry about much more than arriving on time. But as times have changed, so has the airport check-in process.
Now, we are subjected to identification review, removal of shoes, metal objects, jackets, liquids and metal detectors. Thought that was bad? Read on.
According to the Washington Times, “A senior government official with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called safety bracelet that would serve as a stun device, similar to that of a police Taser.”That’s right.
Like the pain collars featured in the classic Star Trek episode “The Gamesters of Triskelion,” Lamperd Less Lethal’s electro-muscular disruption (EMD) bracelet is intended to incapacitate wearers on remote command.
Apparently some people thought that this electronic ID bracelet could replace an airline boarding pass, as it would contain the passenger’s personal information, monitor the passenger and his/her luggage at all times, and — if need be — could shock the person immediately, completely immobilizing him/her for several minutes.
The electronic ID bracelet, similar to an EMD or Electro-Musclar Disruption device, could be placed on each passenger before departure and removed once the destination was reached.
The inventor of the magnetically secured wristbands — Per Hahne of Toronto — had proposed that his EMD devices be fitted on all airline passengers as a safeguard against terrorist attacks.
But two years ago, Homeland Security officials focused on the potential use of the bracelets only for transporting prisoners, and to help manage illegal immigration.
“Our interest was to detain with less-than-lethal means an apprehended suspect,” said Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa.
Nothing came of the Homeland Security meeting with Hahne, and Kudwa said DHS never considered the technology as a terrorist-stopping measure.
Hahne and Lamperd Less Lethal still say airlines could augment security by fitting all passengers with the bracelets, which could be programmed to contain a passenger’s travel data, such as identification information and seat number.
In addition, flight crews would be able to shock any terrorists who took troubling action once a plane was airborne, the bracelet maker says.
“I’ve tried to convey to everyone my interest is aviation and terrorist hijackings,” Hahne said. “It’s not really for me to say what the US government wants to do with a patent of mine. The idea can be left or taken.”
