The scanner works by using lasers to evaluate the presence of any chemical traces on people or packages, and then that information is synched up to a computer attached to the small machine. The process of scanning and downloading the information takes only picoseconds- so one-trillionth of a second- which means that security workers would be alerted to any alarming substances as you were approaching them. The implications for this machine are both obvious and widespread, as it will easily lend speed and accuracy to the system, as well as an added element of non-prejudice.
Because it takes such a short amount of time to use the laser technology and interpret the data, security officials will not have to discriminate among suspicious passengers and will have time to use the technology on everyone. The issue there, however, is that passengers will undoubtedly be upset that they are being searching without their knowledge and without any notification.
The size and portability of the Picosecond Programmable Laser scanner means that in addition to airports and border points - which are expected to be the main areas of use - there is the possibility that the scanners may be put in police cars and subway stations. The unattributed Gizmodo report, which is said to be written by a PhD student studying renewable energy solutions who chose to remain anonymous, highlights the fact that many of the unanswered questions relating to the government's prospective implementation of the scanners and the privacy issues at hand have yet to be answered.
