 |
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
 |
Onboard Threat Detection System For Big Brother Airlines
An Onboard Threat Detection System is under development for the Paris-based Security of Aircraft In The Future European Environment (SAFEE) project. The intent is to provide pilots and cabin crew with an early warning of terrorist activities.
Here's how it would work. While you sat in your seat just before and during the flight, a tiny camera that would be virtually undetectable would focus on your face and upper body. Every facial expression and twitch would be scrutinized, as well as any suspicious body movements. On-board software would compare your behavior with known or theorized terrorist behavior.
A microphone would hear and record even the most lightly whispered remarks. Apparently, Islamic terrorists are known to whisper texts from the Koran just before going into action.
"We're trying to develop technologies that indicate the differences between normal passengers and those who may be a threat to others, or themselves," said Catherine Neary of BAE Systems. She also noted that all video, audio and other recordings would be destroyed at the end of every flight so passenger liberties were not infringed.
The development of this system is being carried out by British and German researchers; approximately $US50 million has been budgeted. BAE Systems already specializes in Deployable Surveillance Units that integrates a wide range of sensors (radar, EO/IR cameras and motion detectors). SAFEE is an integrated project with several dozen partners throughout the European Union.

(InFlight television screens)
If SAFEE engineers could just combine the little LCD displays already present in the seat backs on many planes with George Orwell's telescreen, we could perfectly monitor everyone.
And, if this system works in the air, it would work in other places where we are afraid of terrorists. For example, buses, trains, subways and other transit systems. Then, of course, there are the other terrorist targets, like nightclubs, restaurants and even cafes...
The Chestnut Tree was almost empty. A ray of sunlight slanting through a
window fell on dusty table-tops. It was the lonely hour of fifteen. A
tinny music trickled from the telescreens.
Winston sat in his usual corner, gazing into an empty glass. Now and again
he glanced up at a vast face which eyed him from the opposite wall.
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption said.
(Read more about Orwell's telescreen)
Apple Computer has applied for a patent for a display screen that could also capture images; see Apple Apparently Working On Orwell's Telescreen. Read more about Watching you fly, Security of Aircraft in the Future European Environment and BAE Systems Deployable Surveillance Systems.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/18/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories -
("
Surveillance
")
New Train Station Offers Minority Report-Style Signs
A whole new world awaits you, John Anderton!
'Ring Nation' Show Predicted By William Gibson In 1999
'... you had your trademark Lucky Dragon Global Interactive Video Column outside.'
The Wanderer: Eyebot From Fallout, Eye From Zelazny
'We send our eyes on their appointed rounds, and they can hover or soar or back up...' - Roger Zelazny, 1966.
Small Town Wants 60 License Plate Readers
'the registration number which the traffic control automatically photographed as she left the controlway...' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
 |
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Spectroscopic Analysis Of DART Impact Debris Cloud (SF Prediction)
'... Wendis stared thoughtfully at the brilliant lines on the spectroscope screen.'
Modern App Provides Video Technology From Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'
'A special spot-wavex scrambler also caused his televised image, in the area immediately about his lips, to mouth the vowels and consonants beautifully.'
Win $250K By Reading Ancient Scrolls Carbonized By Vesuvius
'... it was as if the upper part had been removed, like a cut deck of cards.'
Toy-Like Robot Well-Being Coaches Are The Best
Sumomo will get those office workers into good shape!
AI-Trained Snack App Avatar Goes On Dates For You
'... who let their handbag computers carry all the conversation.'
M-Dwarf Stars May Not Have Habitable Planets
'Thus it came about that the search for a planetiferous sun near a white dwarf star was not unduly prolonged...'
Too Soon To Doom Lunar Farside Observatories
'Earth never shone there, but life was good.'
Amitabh Bachchan Wins Personality Protection
'He led me down the Hall of Portraits to the ego-likeness of the Duke Leto Atreides.'
LIAM F1 UWT Clever Rooftop Windmill
'...a windmill on his roof...'
Scent-Identifying Robot Uses Machine Learning
'It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetrahydrocarbons...'
Volvo's Autonomous Truck
'They were automatic trucks such as are used for making deliveries...'
Skiing On The Moon - Skiing on Asteroids?
'MacIntyre bent down without a word and picked up the wide skis necessary to negotiate the powdery ash.'
Liberty Lifter X-Plane From DARPA
'...the tremendous speed that the Jupiter was turning up under the thrust of her twenty-four screws whirling on the shafts of twelve powerful motors.'
Robot Performs 3D Bioprinting Inside The Body
'Probably Runciter's body contained a dozen artiforgs...'
Bubloons May Be The Start Of Something Much Bigger
'Spurgle kicked at the letter G... It was a monstrous white thing, ten feet thick, half a city block long...'
Sleeping Pods In Tokyo Railway Stations
'... she was asleep before the lid sealed fully back in place.'
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
 |