Apple's Secret Plan To Join iPhones With Airport Security 232
Hugh Pickens writes "Currently — as most of us know — TSA agents briefly examine government ID and boarding passes as each passenger presents their documents at a checkpoint at the end of a security line. Thom Patterson writes at CNN that under a 2008 Apple patent application that was approved in July and filed under the working title "iTravel," a traveler's phone would automatically send electronic identification to a TSA agent as soon as the traveler got in line and as each traveler waits in line. TSA agents would examine the electronic ID at an electronic viewing station. Next, at the X-ray stations, a traveler's phone would confirm to security agents that the traveler's ID had already been checked. Apple's patent calls for the placement of special kiosks (PDF) around the airport which will automatically exchange data with your phone via a close range wireless technology called near field communication (NFC). Throughout the process, the phone photo could be displayed on a screen for comparison with the traveler. Facial recognition software could be included in the process. Several experts say a key question that must be answered is: How would you prove that the phone is yours? To get around this problem, future phones or electronic ID may require some form of biometric security function including photo, fingerprint and photo retinal scan comparisons. Of course, there is still a ways to go. If consumers, airlines, airports and the TSA don't embrace the NFC kiosks, experts say it's unlikely Apple's vision would become reality. 'First you would have to sell industry on Apple's idea. Then you'd have to sell it to travel consumers,' says Neil Hughes of Apple Insider. 'It's a chicken-and-egg problem.'"
Also, Apple would need NFC in their phones (Score:5, Insightful)
which hasn't happened yet.
shrug. (Score:0, Insightful)
well, patenting it is a good way to ensure it won't happen for 20 years. Patents retard innovation, as is well understood [ucla.edu] by now.
Companies: Apple isn't forever (Score:5, Insightful)
- everyone is, or will be on Facebook
- everyone has, or will have an Apple device (iphone or ipad)
All rather short-sighted. In the past we've seen new ideas come along and be embraced by society and then abandoned. Skateboard parks, CB radios, kung fu
Not to say that Apple doesn't have a large customer base now - but it won't always. Is it really that worthwhile to introduce special handling for people with a special type of device?
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Cell phones are becoming less about communications and more about tracking and identification. Pretty soon big brother isn't going to let you leave home without it.
1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual.
Re:Secret HOW? Nice Headline Slashdot... (Score:2, Insightful)
> In all likelihood, it would be a service that would be available *IF YOU WANT IT*
Just like using SSN for anything but social security...oh wait...
Re:Secret HOW? Nice Headline Slashdot... (Score:5, Insightful)
In all likelihood, it would be a service that would be available *IF YOU WANT IT*
Christ, people, if you suffer from this type of PARANOIA regularly, seek professional help.
Optional today, required tomorrow. But don't worry because it'll work with Android and Windows Phone 8, and you'll get to choose the software you like best!
Swearing about PARANOIA seems more than a little unfair since the government has tried this strategy -- but without the iPhone -- before. It looks like they're currently calling it TSA PreCheck [tsa.gov] but they'll probably change it to "PhoneCheck".
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh for fuck's sake. When you buy an airline ticket your entire life history is available for the taking. You are not traveling anonymously or privately. You are known to the TSA before you ever step into the airline terminal. If you want to blame someone, start with DHS and the TSA. Apple isn't selling you out, your government sold you out.
Re:Secret HOW? Nice Headline Slashdot... (Score:5, Insightful)
In all likelihood, it would be a service that would be available *IF YOU WANT IT*
Indeed. To give a more recent example (than SSN given by someone else), consider the electronic toll-booths.
First, it was a discount pilot program for those who want it
Then it was a normal-price convenience
Then the cash-booths dwindled to one or two per road
And I have already ran into some booths in Illinois with "no human operator present". And ran into something like that in Canada (no cash payment option, apparently, but they can charge and fine you later with plate recognition)
It doesn't even take that long to go from "optional convenience" to "optional if you like to suffer and pay extra"
Re:Also, Apple would need NFC in their phones (Score:3, Insightful)
Nice fact but you know what I mean, NFC is now a expected feature for the top of the range smart phones
Why? I've never seen a place where you can use it. Similar schemes for cards/devices to replace small change etc. have failed to find any traction many times before.
As it stands for those phones that have it, at best it's a pointless novelty.
If Apple introduce it it'll be when and if it gains traction, or if before that, it'll be when Apple themselves can put together enough partners to make it worthwhile.
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:5, Insightful)
If you want to blame someone, start with DHS and the TSA. Apple isn't selling you out, your government sold you out.
Close but you're one level too shallow which is .. typical. DHS and TSA are effects. Not causes.
The causes are a bunch of Americans who think being fat and stupid is acceptable. They care a LOT more about who the next American Idol will be, or which football team wins a game (athletes == the really rich people nobody hates) than they do about our progress along a path to our own brand of fascism. Ever see mindless football fans jumping up and down, yelling and screaming etc. over a touchdown? If they got half that concerned and excited about freedom (real freedom, not the "freedom to tell other people how to live" bullshit) we wouldn't HAVE a TSA.
Fat stupid people who aren't terribly aware of what's going on is an environment. Government tyranny is an organism that thrives in this particular environment. It is not hard to understand. It's just hard for immature minds to accept because there is no nice fluffy-bunny way to say it that will never offend anybody. And to immature minds, being inoffensive no matter how low of a priority that should be in the face of bigger problems, is much more important than dealing with reality.
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:3, Insightful)
how about they just fuck the TSA right off, and everyone can go back to being chilled and not freaking out about being on a plane. TSA has stopped 0 terrorists, but has sexually assulted millions.
If only I had mod points. Can we bury this fucking national embarrassment and waste of our tax money already.
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Cell phones are becoming less about communications and more about tracking and identification. Pretty soon big brother isn't going to let you leave home without it.
1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual.
I travel a fair bit for work. Not nearly as much as I used to as I've been trying to travel less. I'm probably a little older than the average /. reader too. But every now an then I end up at the airport and am not in a totally self absorbed rush and it really scares the shit out of me what we have allowed our government to take away from us.
Air travel has truly made me think that many of the nightmarish versions of the future that were envisioned decades ago are, at least in part, coming true. Anywhere you stand in an airport you hear a repeated announcement every two minutes. Basically an authoritative voice telling you what you can carry on the plane. Or that your bag will be taken and destroyed if you leave it unattended. Or not to trust anyone and report suspicious behavior. It's a far cry from the first time I flew when you were more likely to hear jingles about flying the friendly skies
Now you get herded through scanners and treated like a criminal. Particularly if you forgot that bottle of water in your carry-on. And the way I have seen people treated who choose to not go through the (non-monitored by sane practices) radiation emitting scanners is terrifying. On multiple occasions I've seen several TSA employees loudly make fun of these people. It's a far cry from the days when you were treated like a valued customer and respected as a person by the people at the airport.
When I stop to take the time to actually watch and listen to what is happening at airport today; and try to remember my mindset of how things once were I find it's a shame how our way of life has been altered by those in power. I don't know if the cause was Bin Laden and his cowardly attacks on this country. Or if our leaders chose to use it as an excuse to do this themselves. Either way, it saddens me to think that we have lost our way.
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:0, Insightful)
Lemme guess, calling Bin Laden a coward is one of your pet peeves. Way to totally miss the point. You're a gotcha queen. Fuck off.
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:4, Insightful)
...or you could move to a country with a healthcare service ....rather than a system run for the benefit of insurance companies
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:4, Insightful)
Anywhere you stand in an airport you hear a repeated announcement every two minutes. Basically an authoritative voice telling you [...]
When I saw Strange Days [imdb.com] in 1995, with its constant authoritative announcements in the background, I thought it was bad science fiction. Then it happened.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:A 1984 device ? (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't know if the cause was Bin Laden and his cowardly attacks on this country.
- Going undercover into enemy territory for a long time
Yes, this is very difficult in the US where diversity is the norm. I mean, holy shit, they had to keep from firing guns in the air or leave the RPG at home to blend in. That's fucking amazing!
- Defying enemy security while not standing out from the crowd
What security? This was pre-9-11. Walking up to the airplane w/o shooting anyone? Damn that must have been difficult.
- with only a handful of people, overpowering airplane staff and keeping a horde of the enemy cowed into submission
Only because prior to that day, no one was bat shit crazy enough to hijack a plane and do what they did. If someone robs a bank, they generally don't shoot everybody when they leave. Or blow themselves and everybody up after getting the cash. That didn't work out so well on the fourth plane, did it? And pre 9-11 do you really find overpowering the staff of an airplane manly? A group of mostly women and somehow they managed to overpower them. They must have been Chuck Norris like to be able to do that.
I'm not sure what you think is so blatantly cowardly about it.
Because the little pussy did not do it himself. He convinced other fools to do it for him and then hid like a little bitch.