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Government Laser Scanners Will Scan You From 164 Feet Away
Gizmodo ^ | 7/10/12 | Gizmodo

Posted on 07/10/2012 7:22:27 PM PDT by listenhillary

Hidden Government Scanners Will Instantly Know Everything About You From 164 Feet Away

Within the next year or two, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will instantly know everything about your body, clothes, and luggage with a new laser-based molecular scanner fired from 164 feet (50 meters) away. From traces of drugs or gun powder on your clothes to what you had for breakfast to the adrenaline level in your body—agents will be able to get any information they want without even touching you.

And without you knowing it. The technology is so incredibly effective that, in November 2011, its inventors were subcontracted by In-Q-Tel to work with the US Department of Homeland Security. In-Q-Tel is a company founded "in February 1999 by a group of private citizens at the request of the Director of the CIA and with the support of the U.S. Congress." According to In-Q-Tel, they are the bridge between the Agency and new technology companies.

Their plan is to install this molecular-level scanning in airports and border crossings all across the United States. The official, stated goal of this arrangement is to be able to quickly identify explosives, dangerous chemicals, or bioweapons at a distance.

The machine is ten million times faster—and one million times more sensitive—than any currently available system. That means that it can be used systematically on everyone passing through airport security, not just suspect or randomly sampled people.

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
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To: listenhillary
Just try to shine a damned laser at one of them and see what happens.
21 posted on 07/10/2012 8:16:27 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: Irenic
That would sure help the Health Care Nazis, eh?

Yes, we can be pre-screened to see if we even warrant making an appearance before the death panels...
22 posted on 07/10/2012 8:23:16 PM PDT by green pastures (Cynicism-- it's not just for breakfast anymore...)
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To: GladesGuru

Bonk


23 posted on 07/10/2012 8:28:53 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The Slave Party Switcheroo: Economic crisis! Zero's eligibility Trumped!! Hillary 2012!!!)
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To: listenhillary

Just for the record right now this is vapor ware. I was involved in some of the Terahertz testing for a conceptual proof of application. While the goal is as stated in the article, no one was having much success. And I gurantee that mid-ir or even Thz wave lengths will not be travelling 50 meters and remain unscattered.

The fact that money is being spent on this should in fact scare everyone


24 posted on 07/10/2012 8:45:51 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: listenhillary

Just for the record right now this is vapor ware. I was involved in some of the Terahertz testing for a conceptual proof of application. While the goal is as stated in the article, no one was having much success. And I gurantee that mid-ir or even Thz wave lengths will not be travelling 50 meters and remain unscattered.

The fact that money is being spent on this should in fact scare everyone


25 posted on 07/10/2012 8:45:51 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: Nifster

Question: Would this thing expose passengers to radiation like the scanners at airports? We’re talking about microwave, right?


26 posted on 07/10/2012 9:14:34 PM PDT by PastorBooks
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To: Nifster

This is not Terahertz technology. It is a scanning laser backscatter spectoscope. This would be much less intrusive than the current methods.


27 posted on 07/10/2012 9:18:38 PM PDT by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: SubMareener

Freedom????? We don’t need no stinkin’ freedom!


28 posted on 07/10/2012 9:33:19 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: Irenic
I think it is about time to put our foot down. Not quite sure how we do it though.

OUr feet aren't what need to be put down.

29 posted on 07/10/2012 10:07:37 PM PDT by zeugma (Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: mamelukesabre

I think you’re overly optimistic my friend.

My estimate is less than 10 years or by the end of Ob’s second term, whichever comes sooner.

They already are doing “preventative interventions” a la the movie “Minority Report”.

There have been funny black boxes mounted over the arrival walkway in the Ontario airport for about a decade that EVERY arriving passenger passes under.

They have truck mounted scanners that can monitor activity inside what used to be your one location of “expected privacy” - your home.

Imagine for just a moment or two, at the industry accepted rate of doubling every 18 months, how much more computer power the average gubmint grunt will have at their disposal in just 10 more years that they will use to invade your privacy WHEREVER you are and WHATEVER you might be doing in order to justify some sort of criminal complaint/control over you ............

Let’s see ..... 10 years = 120 months

120 months / 18 months per doubling of cpu power

My 3rd grade math skills tells me that is about 6.7 “doublings” in JUST the next 10 years!

I think that translates to the computer today running your smart phone will be 2*2*2*2*2*2 = 64+ times more powerful than it is today. Just think for a moment what your friendly neighborhood gubmint meglomaniac control freak will be able to do with his handheld gizmo by 2022 ........


30 posted on 07/10/2012 10:34:16 PM PDT by CanuckYank
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To: listenhillary
The machine is a mobile, rack-mountable system. It fires a laser to provide molecular-level feedback at distances of up to 50 meters in just picoseconds. For all intents and purposes, that means instantly.

Paging Dr Einstein. Please pick up the nearest Courtesy Phone!

31 posted on 07/10/2012 10:45:27 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: SubMareener

And the laser being used is in the THz range.... back scatter is a phenomenon not the wave length f the laser used. But still the point is that this ain’t anywhere close to being ready...a year from now??? No way


32 posted on 07/10/2012 10:58:36 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: PastorBooks

Not microwave lengths. The lasers involved are in the terahertz range. People are exposed to radiation all the time. But as to your concerns about it being like the scanners at the airport....the short answer is no. Less fluence is needed hence less exposure for humans


33 posted on 07/10/2012 11:01:57 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: Nifster

I know that backscatter spectroscopy is one of the most highly secured projects at a national/private lab near me.


34 posted on 07/10/2012 11:07:02 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture TM)
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To: steve86

It has been around for years. The applications and laser sources are what is classified


35 posted on 07/10/2012 11:21:24 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: Nervous Tick
I can imagine gunpowder being tracked into every courtroom
and mall around the country. The states would have to change their laws
to allow this breach of privacy from the Government. It would be akin to taking toilet samples
from everyone using a public restroom for drug testing.


I wonder why the Government would search civilians where there is no crime.

36 posted on 07/10/2012 11:25:09 PM PDT by MaxMax
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To: Irenic

80 million shotguns being racked in unison and pointed at the appropriate threats, would be a good beginning.


37 posted on 07/11/2012 12:01:41 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: listenhillary

Just think of the money to be made marketing a personal detector for these things and then there is the APP for reporting the location of the sensor/user.

Ah yes! a whole new industry is about to be born! Halleleu-YAH! We are saved through technology. /sarc


39 posted on 07/11/2012 3:46:16 AM PDT by The Working Man
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To: CanuckYank

sooo probably about 4 times the computing power of a high end tower PC in a smart phone sized device by then.


40 posted on 07/11/2012 6:23:30 AM PDT by mamelukesabre
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