ian@geog.leeds.ac.uk (Ian Turton) writes: | There was an article in a recent New Scientist (maybe last week) that | mentioned the use of infrared scans of faces to identify people since its | very hard to change the thermal image of your face by surgery. The plan is | to scan every one passing through the airport and forward the image to the | FBI [...] "Stewardess? Could I get some extra ice?" IR scans can be *so* easily messed up that I'm amazed anyone is seriously suggesting this. A facial scan can be messed up by downing a cold drink. Downing a hot drink. Ambient temperature. Sweating. Sucking an ice cube, though, is one of the easiest. Or just running it across your forehead and cheeks. Even a hat can mess one up as far as recognition purposes go. ---Ken McGlothlen mcglk@cpac.washington.edu mcglk@cpac.bitnet mcglk@c3po.ring.wizards.com (NeXTmail)