Comments on: Technology changes the check-in desk http://it.gen.nz/2008/11/20/technology-changes-the-check-in-desk/ Writings on technology and society from Wellington, New Zealand Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:10:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: colin http://it.gen.nz/2008/11/20/technology-changes-the-check-in-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 colin Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:34:00 +0000 http://it.gen.nz/?p=364#comment-1239 I was recently required, at Singapore airport, to dump the smallest available bottle of contact lens fluid, because it contained 120ml. Hmmm. I was recently required, at Singapore airport, to dump the smallest available bottle of contact lens fluid, because it contained 120ml. Hmmm.

]]> By: Matthew Holloway http://it.gen.nz/2008/11/20/technology-changes-the-check-in-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-1236 Matthew Holloway Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:36:25 +0000 http://it.gen.nz/?p=364#comment-1236 The way I think about this is that if it were at all possible to bring down planes with mere cellphones or a laptop's wifi then the airlines would confiscate the devices. That the airlines allow people onboard with all kinds of gadgets shows that even they don't take this threat seriously. And despite years of talking about this supposed weakness in airplanes we never do hear about Hezbollah sneaking cellphones onboard now do we? Of course I'm not saying that people should break the law I"m only meaning to point out puzzling rules. On a separate matter there has been an interesting debate lately between Bruce Schneier and the TSA. I particularly like this bit about taking liquids onboard and the exemption for bottles labeled 'Saline': "Later, Schneier would carry two bottles labeled saline solution -- 24 ounces in total -- through security. An officer asked him why he needed two bottles. "Two eyes," he said. He was allowed to keep the bottles." http://tinyurl.com/contact-lens-cleaning This commentary on the TSAs procedures blew up into responses from the head of the TSA in the latest Schneier newsletter: http://www.metafilter.com/76618/Trolling-the-head-of-the-TSA The way I think about this is that if it were at all possible to bring down planes with mere cellphones or a laptop’s wifi then the airlines would confiscate the devices. That the airlines allow people onboard with all kinds of gadgets shows that even they don’t take this threat seriously. And despite years of talking about this supposed weakness in airplanes we never do hear about Hezbollah sneaking cellphones onboard now do we?

Of course I’m not saying that people should break the law I”m only meaning to point out puzzling rules.

On a separate matter there has been an interesting debate lately between Bruce Schneier and the TSA. I particularly like this bit about taking liquids onboard and the exemption for bottles labeled ‘Saline’:

“Later, Schneier would carry two bottles labeled saline solution — 24 ounces in total — through security. An officer asked him why he needed two bottles. “Two eyes,” he said. He was allowed to keep the bottles.”

http://tinyurl.com/contact-lens-cleaning

This commentary on the TSAs procedures blew up into responses from the head of the TSA in the latest Schneier newsletter:

http://www.metafilter.com/76618/Trolling-the-head-of-the-TSA

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