Second, the use of icons has been with is since the Xerox and Apple computers first introduced them and they are still the primary way that we launch files and applications. This is true for desktop and laptop computers as well as most handheld devices.

From Windows 3.1, we still have the concept of the Control Panel in Windows 7. The Windows 3.1 Control Panel had a whopping 11 applets in it right after installing Windows. Needless to say, Windows 7 has many more applets in its Control Panel, but the Control Panel remains just the same.

To see an interesting video demonstrating the history of the Windows operating system through sequential upgrades from one to the next, search for Chain of Fools: Upgrading Through Every Version of Windows at YouTube.com.

If the TSA would only scan boarding passes as the passengers go through security, they could determine which passengers have been selected for "random" screening many times in the past and ensure that they are not wasting their time on the same person again and again. For example, I have a friend who flies frequently (3-4 times each month like me) and he said he has not been "randomly" selected once this year.

The biggest problem is that we're depending on extremely biased machines to randomize the passengers. These biased machines are also known as humans. Maybe one TSA agent always selects the person they feel will be most cooperative. Maybe they select every fifth person through to attempt pure randomization. Through observation tests, I can assure you that no such pattern is used even if they are told to use such a pattern. In one sixty minute period I observed 53 passengers going through security. No humanly trackable pattern appeared in the selection process.

However, one interesting pattern did appear. Of the 53 people passing through, 7 were selected for additional screening. Of the 53 passengers, 4 helped other people with an item that fell or some other needed assistance. Not one of these four people were selected.

This made me so curious that I had to do an experiment. While sitting at the Atlanta airport, where hundreds trudge through security each hour, I was able to observe a security lane where the "random selector" agent could clearly see everyone as they were preparing to come through. In just over two hours, I observed 27 people helping someone else through the line. Again, they were not selected for additional screening.

Now, clearly, further research is required to verify this bias, but the preliminary counts seem to indicate that you can greatly increase your odds of avoiding "random" selection by helping someone on the way through the line. And this is just one example of the bias within the human machine.

So, how do we fix this. Simple, an alternating pattern must be used to select the "random" passengers. Each TSA agent can be assigned a pattern (one could be the 3, 5, 2, 1, 7, 3, 5, 2, etc and another be 4, 5, 2, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 2, 5, etc) and the "random selector" agent can be replaced with another agent after 3-4 iterations of the pattern making it difficult for pattern watchers to discover the pattern.

Additionally, to add variety to the pattern, if a passenger has been screened more than 3 of the last 5 times they've flown within the last sixty days, the agent is notified through a vibration signal with a hip mounted device. The agent simply passes over this passenger and continues his pattern with the next passenger. Of course, this would require boarding pass scanning outside of security, but maybe this would provide some real value at the point of entry in opposition to what we have now.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Tom, this sounds too confusing." I say that the TSA agents are paid very well and we should not hesitate to require this ability and skill from them. Those who can't cut it, simply find themselves in lower paid positions, such as the non-observing guard at the exit of security.

In the end, random just ain't random when humans are involved and it can actually make for weakened security. Just a thought.

You’ve got LANs, WANs, MANs and PANs
There’s wire-line, wireless, sensor-based and even mesh

You’ve got 2G, 3G, 4G and multi-frequency
There’s narrow-band, wide-band, in-band, out-of-band and broadband

If you’re not careful, you’ll run into Bluetooth, Zigbee, IrDA and RFID
And when you’re not lookin’ in comes 11a, 11b, 11n and 11g

If by now you do not see, this is the wireless industry.

OK. I’m done. I promise. But you must admit, this is the world of wireless – with a bit of wired networking thrown in.

Tom vehemently denies having anything to do with the following recording:

www.tomcarpenter.net/wp-content/uploads/media/world_of_wireless.mp3