Are Psychics in the TSA's Future?

Have you noticed that every time a would-be terrorist attempts to set off a shoe bomb, say, or a liquid bomb, or the so-called Christmas Day "panty bomb" on a flight, the TSA's reaction is to make all of us take off our shoes, leave our liquids at the gate or ... wear no panties?

Seems kind of reactive and after-the-fact, doesn't it?

What if instead, the TSA hired a psychic to sit at the security gate? She could set up a table with her Tarot cards and her crystal ball and have travelers come one by one for a mind reading. Is an attempted bombing in your future? Are you the bomber? Think of the money we could save on fancy new technology by going old school.

After all, as President Obama said after the latest attempt over the holidays: "We have to stay one step ahead of a nimble adversary."

Well, psychics may not quite be in our immediate future, but some pretty unorthodox ideas are being tossed around by experts looking to stop terrorists in their tracks. The Associated Press has a round-up of the hottest ideas — some of which may fly, while others may never quite get liftoff.

Mind Readers

One approach created by an Israeli company called WeCU Technologies (as in "We See You" — creepy!) is testing a system that uses hidden cameras to project terrorist images and insignia onto airport screens in unexpected places. The rationale is that a terrorist couldn't help but register a flash of recognition with a sudden eye movement, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, or a nervous twitch, all of which would be picked up by sensors. (Of course, critics say this is a gross violation of privacy.)

Lie Detectors

Another system being looked at by Homeland Security, called Future Attribute Screening Technology, or FAST, works like an expanded polygraph, measuring not just pulse, but facial movements, pupil dilation and fidgeting commonly seen in people who are lying. (I don't know about you folks, but I'm a pretty fidgety person.)

The Israeli Model

Another option on the table takes a page out of the Israeli playbook. In the Middle Eastern nation, obviously subject to regular terrorist threats, travelers are essentially considered guilty until proven innocent. Screeners ask probing personal questions, look passengers straight in the eye, and scrutinize personal items, including toothpaste, socks, undies and books. They also employ racial profiling, pulling non-Israelis aside for even more thorough searches, including strip searches. Yikes!

For the full list of ideas, check out the full AP article here.

Photo courtesy of basykes via Flickr.