Video cameras on the lookout for terrorists

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/08/07/terrorism.technology.ap/index.html

Video cameras on the lookout for terrorists

NISKAYUNA, New York (AP) -- It sounds like something out of science fiction.

Researchers at General Electric Co.'s sprawling research center, are creating new "smart video surveillance" systems that can detect explosives by recognizing the electromagnetic waves given off by objects, even under clothing.

Scientist Peter Tu and his team are also developing programs that can recognize faces, pinpoint distress in a crowd by honing in on erratic body movements and synthesize the views of several cameras into one bird's eye view, as part of a growing effort to thwart terrorism.

"We're definitely on the cutting edge," said Tu, 39. "If you want to reduce risk, video is the way to do it. The threat is always evolving, so our video is always evolving."

...

The United States and its allies now face a new "Iraq generation" of terrorists who have learned how to make explosive devices, assassinate leaders and carry out other mayhem since the U.S. invasion of the country more than three years ago, said Roger Cressey, a former counterterrorism official in the Bush Administration who now runs his own consulting business in Arlington, Virginia.


A camera records activity at a GE video surveillance testing site.

[Drum]

1. riiiiight....

[wakeme2008]

2. Tampa turned theirs OFF did not catch anybody in a year

major waste of $$$$$$