Bulletproof Glass Pods Add More Security to Airports

Bulletproof Glass Pods Add More Security to Airports

Bulletproof Glass Pods Add More Security to Airports

Belts and shoes must be removed; laptops must be taken out of bags and placed into a bin along with carry-on luggage to be shoved through a scanning device to make sure nothing suspicious is hiding within. And, that’s just to get into the airport. Now, after landing, some airports are requiring people to walk through futuristic, bulletproof, glass pods to exit the facility.

Replacing officers at security exits, these unmanned portals act as a barrier to exit for passengers attempting to leave the airport after landing to prevent re-entry into secure areas and to keep others from entering through airport exits. Travelers simply step into one of these elevator-sized cylinders and wait as a door slides closed behind them, fully encasing their body. A couple of seconds later, a different door opens on the front side as a voice instructs people to “please exit.”

(Sounds a little like taking Mario or Luigi through a warp zone in the old Mario Brothers video game to me.)

TSA is preparing to save $88.1 million during 2014 by shifting exit-monitoring duties at airport exit checkpoints, so this technology may be the answer to saving money. However, as with most security, I’m sure it could slow travelers down even though both Syracuse and Atlantic City airports, which are currently using the pods, recently reported that during high-traffic, evening hours there hasn’t been a backup of people. Maybe this is because the whole process, from entering to exiting, takes only approximately 5 seconds or maybe it’s because the pod only acts as a barrier. Whatever the reason, time could become of the essence as it is possible to equip the portals with biometric scanning technology.

I’m not too sure we've done a great job keeping the “bad” people out of airports to begin with, but now we may have to deal with security coming and going!

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.