New technology that can “see” through clothing and detect what’s underneath can now be used to scan crowds, making it a potentially effective tool to prevent terrorist attacks in public places.
The ThruVision T5000 camera picks up 1)Terahertz rays, or T-rays, which are naturally emitted by all objects and can pass through fabric or even walls.
The camera can then detect metallic and non-metallic objects hidden under clothing on still or moving subjects without 2)revealing any body detail, according to its British manufacturer, ThruVision Limited.
While similar technology is being unveiled at airports around the world, the T5000 is designed to be used in large, open areas. With a range of 25 meters, the T5000 can screen people in public places, thus avoiding 3)bottlenecks at border crossings or security 4)checkpoints.
It also means people can be screened without
knowing it.
Amid privacy concerns, ThruVision Chief Executive Clive Beattie said the image produced by the camera did not reveal detailed 5)anatomy.
“It’s almost a glowing light bulb,” Beattie said. “You don’t see the detail that people might be concerned about.”
Explosives, liquids, 6)narcotics, weapons, plastics, and 7)ceramics can all be detected by the camera’s
imaging technology, which the company says is
completely safe. Unlike X-rays, the T5000 does not emit radiation – it only picks up on it.
The technology 8)stems from British astronomers’ work in studying dying stars. Astronomers use T-ray cameras to see through dust and clouds in space.
The company sees uses for its camera at 9)high-profile sites like political or business 10)venues, and outdoor areas like tourist attractions and sports
11)arenas.
The camera is already in use in London’s Canary Wharf financial area.
In London’s busy Piccadilly Circus – which is already filled with closed-circuit 12)surveillance cameras – reaction to the new technology was mixed.
Some said the camera was going too far and invading privacy, but others said they are willing to put safety before privacy concerns.
“There’s surveillance everywhere anyway,” said one 13)commuter. “I don’t think it’s much of a difference. I don’t care that they can see through me, because they can see me anyway.”
Some experts said the intrusion of the camera was not worth the benefit.
“What we should consider is how much we want to lose aspects of our privacy in order to attain a sort of national security,” said David Murakami Wood, director of the Surveillance Studies Network, which deals with surveillance and privacy issues. “In most cases this isn’t real security – it’s a sense of safety that has very little real effect.”
一種能夠透視衣服并檢驗衣服之下隱藏物的新技術(shù)如今可以用來掃描人群。它可能成為阻止恐怖襲擊在公共場所發(fā)生的有效工具。
這種ThruVision T5000攝像頭能接收太拉赫(萬億赫茲級)射線——即T射線。所有物體在自然狀態(tài)下都可以發(fā)出這種射線,它可以穿透織物甚至墻體。
據(jù)此產(chǎn)品的英國制造商ThruVision公司稱,這種攝像頭可以在靜止或移動狀態(tài)下監(jiān)測出監(jiān)控對象隱藏在衣物下的金屬或非金屬物品,而不會揭露任何身體細(xì)節(jié)信息。
盡管類似的技術(shù)已運用于世界各地的機(jī)場,但這款T5000專為大片開闊區(qū)域而設(shè)。其監(jiān)控范圍達(dá)25米,可以在公共場所對人群進(jìn)行檢測,從而避免了在出入境關(guān)口或者
安全檢查點的擁堵問題。
這也意味著人們可能在毫不知情的情況下被檢查。
當(dāng)問到對隱私問題的擔(dān)憂時,ThruVision總裁克力夫·貝蒂說,這種攝像頭產(chǎn)生的圖象并不會顯現(xiàn)詳細(xì)的人體特征。
“它幾乎就是一個發(fā)光的燈泡,”貝蒂說道,“你看不到人們可能有所擔(dān)憂的身體
細(xì)節(jié)。”
這款攝像頭的成像技術(shù)可對爆炸物、液體、麻醉品、武器、塑料制品和陶瓷制品進(jìn)行探測。該公司說此技術(shù)十分安全。與X射線不同,這款T5000不會產(chǎn)生輻射——它只
接收射線。
這項技術(shù)(的靈感)源于英國天文學(xué)家對隕星的研究。天文學(xué)家們使用T射線攝像機(jī),
透過宇宙中的重重星塵和星云進(jìn)行觀測。
該公司看到了此款攝像頭的商業(yè)潛力在于用于人群出入較多的場所——如政治或商業(yè)性地段,還有如旅游名勝或體育競技場等戶外……p>