[LINK] Dept. of Homeland Security weighs forcing passengers to wear stun gun bracelets on airplanes

[Tom Worthington]

At 07:48 AM 11/07/2008, Antony Barry wrote:
>The mind boggles. Perhaps it's a spoof? ...

The "EMD Safety Bracelet for Airline Security" is listed on the 
Lamperd company we site at 
<http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/#Our_Showcase>. The patent 
"Security device for aircraft passengers" is at: 
<http://www.google.com/patents?id=xGB4AAAAEBAJ&dq=Safety+Bracelet+for+Airline+Security>.

It is difficult imagine how a patent was granted, as such devices 
have been depicted in numerous science fiction books and films.

Keep in mind that companies come up with gadgets to sell to the 
government all the time. If it is from a reputable company, the 
government people politely look at the device (if they don't the 
company complains to their member of parliament). It doesn't indicate 
they are going to buy one.

When working on HQ Australian Defence Force, I would occasionally to 
sit in on the sales pitches for gadgets. Many of these did not work, 
or only existed on a powerpoint slide. But in any case you listened 
to the pitch.

ps: How about simply putting an electric lock on everyone's seatbelt? 
That would be useful for stopping all those annoying people who jump 
up as soon as the plane lands. Or perhaps all passengers could be 
nude, reducing their ability to carry concealed weapons.  ;-)



Tom Worthington FACS HLM tom.worthington at tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd            ABN: 17 088 714 309
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617                      http://www.tomw.net.au/
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Australian National University