DHS Investigating Using Wii Balance Boards for Airport Security

**Valigarmander** · 10-11-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

File this one in our favorite category of "Crazy S*** We're Grateful to Have Lived to See": CNN reports (via Yahoo! Games) that the Department of Homeland Security is investigating whether Wii Balance Boards can be used in airport security lines to identify unusually fidgety passengers who can be targeted for a more focused screening.
The Balance Board experiments are part of a new DHS project called "Future Attribute Screening Technology," or "FAST" (see what they did there?). The idea is to measure "physiological signs" that could indicate "whether you might have the desire or intent to do harm," and one of those potential signs is an unusually high amount of fidgetiness.

This is where the Balance Board comes in, as researchers are using a modified Balance Board to read the subtle body weight shifts of the person standing on it, with the intent being to determine whether there's "a level of fidgeting" that could mark a person for additional security screening. It's not just fidgeting that researchers are looking into, though -- it's one of a number of potential signals that the FAST project is trying to read, including heart rate, breathing, eye movement, and body temperature.

Which clearly means one thing: FAST researchers are probably going to want to look into Nintendo's Vitality Sensor once it comes out. Who knew Nintendo was secretly sliding into the security technologies sector?

...Huh.

Luigiman7 · 10-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Smart.

Jesus · 10-11-2009, 11:09 PM

One of the tests Wii Fit uses is to test your balance...whether you put more weight on one leg more than the other. It's a possibility that when terrorists get closer to the airports that they are more nervous about what they are about to do and would be apparent with their balance being out of whack. I have Wii Fit and it is really accurate...but the program they'd have to write for this would have to calculate all movements as Wii Fit only figures out your FINAL BALANCE after you trying to stand still as long as you can. What this article is suggesting is that Homeland Security is discussing whether to invest some research in this technology.

When the human body knows it is near death it goes into involuntary movements which include being fidgety. It's really simple Val when you read through it all.

**Valigarmander** · 10-11-2009, 11:22 PM

I understand it all.

It's just kind of funny.

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-11-2009, 11:39 PM

Eh, a practiced balance performer would be an exception to the concept, though. That or anyone could appear less fidgety by use of muscle relaxants.

Not to mention that security checkpoints always make me nervous.

Speed · 10-11-2009, 11:44 PM

You're kidding right?

***CaptHayfever*** · 10-12-2009, 08:24 AM

I know several people with restless-leg-syndrome. I myself almost never stand on-balance in order to prevent an inherited lower back pain. The disabled are also gonna have some issues with this.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 10-12-2009, 08:33 AM

Airports, as much as I love travelling, make me fidgety. The waiting, the overpriced food, the waiting while you need to use the bathroom really badly, the OH MY GOD WE'RE RUNNING LATE AND OUR GATE IS ON THE OTHER END OF THE TERMINAL AAHHHHHHHH, the quick hand sanitise I touched something, the eight hour layover my god how much sitting can I do in a 48 hour period apparently 40 hours I think I have DVT now

Besides, I set off the metal detector 80% of the time anyway. I've been "randomly" bomb-tested three out of the five times I've travelled. I almost universally have to unpack my handlugage, since I have a laptop-carrying backpack and the liquid baggy these days. You have to remove your shoes at almost every security checkpoint now, and that makes me angry.

1-up Salesman · 10-12-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEADLY KOOPA WARRIORS

Eh, a practiced balance performer would be an exception to the concept, though. That or anyone could appear less fidgety by use of muscle relaxants.

Not to mention that security checkpoints always make me nervous.

"Alright, let's check."

"Okay, just letting you know I'm a little nervous-"

"TERRORIST"

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-13-2009, 08:45 AM

OMIGOD HES GOT A BOMB

***CaptHayfever*** · 10-13-2009, 09:19 AM

^YOU CAN'T JOKE ABOUT BOMBS HERE. THIS IS AN AIRPORT....OF THE INTERNET.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-14-2009, 09:46 PM

THIS PLANE ITSELF IS THE BOMB

DROP IT LIKE ITS HOT

FO SHIZZLE

10-11-2009, 10:41 PM	#2
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	Smart. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

10-11-2009, 11:09 PM	#3
Jesus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 5,617 Thanks: 104 Thanked 139 Times in 101 Posts Blog Entries: 3	One of the tests Wii Fit uses is to test your balance...whether you put more weight on one leg more than the other. It's a possibility that when terrorists get closer to the airports that they are more nervous about what they are about to do and would be apparent with their balance being out of whack. I have Wii Fit and it is really accurate...but the program they'd have to write for this would have to calculate all movements as Wii Fit only figures out your FINAL BALANCE after you trying to stand still as long as you can. What this article is suggesting is that Homeland Security is discussing whether to invest some research in this technology. When the human body knows it is near death it goes into involuntary movements which include being fidgety. It's really simple Val when you read through it all.

10-11-2009, 11:22 PM	#4
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I understand it all. It's just kind of funny.

10-11-2009, 11:39 PM	#5
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Eh, a practiced balance performer would be an exception to the concept, though. That or anyone could appear less fidgety by use of muscle relaxants. Not to mention that security checkpoints always make me nervous.

10-11-2009, 11:44 PM	#6
Speed Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: If there's a bright center to the universe I'm on the planet it's farthest from Gender: Posts: 3,747 Thanks: 1,598 Thanked 320 Times in 224 Posts Blog Entries: 1	You're kidding right?

10-12-2009, 08:24 AM	#7
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	I know several people with restless-leg-syndrome. I myself almost never stand on-balance in order to prevent an inherited lower back pain. The disabled are also gonna have some issues with this. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

10-12-2009, 08:33 AM	#8
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,504 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	Airports, as much as I love travelling, make me fidgety. The waiting, the overpriced food, the waiting while you need to use the bathroom really badly, the OH MY GOD WE'RE RUNNING LATE AND OUR GATE IS ON THE OTHER END OF THE TERMINAL AAHHHHHHHH, the quick hand sanitise I touched something, the eight hour layover my god how much sitting can I do in a 48 hour period apparently 40 hours I think I have DVT now Besides, I set off the metal detector 80% of the time anyway. I've been "randomly" bomb-tested three out of the five times I've travelled. I almost universally have to unpack my handlugage, since I have a laptop-carrying backpack and the liquid baggy these days. You have to remove your shoes at almost every security checkpoint now, and that makes me angry.

10-13-2009, 08:45 AM	#10
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	OMIGOD HES GOT A BOMB

10-13-2009, 09:19 AM	#11
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	^YOU CAN'T JOKE ABOUT BOMBS HERE. THIS IS AN AIRPORT....OF THE INTERNET. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

10-14-2009, 09:46 PM	#12
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	THIS PLANE ITSELF IS THE BOMB DROP IT LIKE ITS HOT FO SHIZZLE