Patent Law

can the airlines taser you in your seat?

By Douglas J. Sorocco, J. Matthew Buchanan, Laura C. Woods and Emily E. Campbell.

Maybe … Well, they probably don’t want to – but an inventor has developed a way to do so – all while you seat securely in your seat.

United States Patent 6,933,851
Hahne, et al. August 23, 2005

Air travel security method, system and device

A method of providing air travel security for passengers traveling via an aircraft comprises situating a remotely activatable electric shock device on each of the passengers in position to deliver a disabling electrical shock when activated; and arming the electric shock devices for subsequent selective activation by a selectively operable remote control disposed within the aircraft. The remotely activatable electric shock devices each have activation circuitry responsive to the activating signal transmitted from the selectively operable remote control means. The activated electric shock device is operable to deliver the disabling electrical shock to that passenger.

I just want to know who gets to us the “selectively operable remote control” – it may be a new revenue generator for the airlines.  And while the initial drawings show it being worn on the wrist, the inventors have not limited it to such a configuration – for those of you looking for a nice choker necklace, they haven’t left you out in the cold.

I would be willing to spend up to $100 in order to be able to shock the SOB who decides to slam his seat back into my knees over and over… or… or…

Hmm – perhaps turning each flight into a lord of the flies situation isn’t such a good idea afterall.

I did breathe a sigh of relief, however – it doesn’t appear that the patent has been assigned to any airline.  Whew…

[Via Sore Eyes, via Bruce Schneier, via Techdirt]

UPDATE:  Well, it seems that while the airlines themselves do not appear to be interested in the device – there is a company developing the technology into an actual product – Lamperd Less Lethal.  They have even put up a YouTube showing the benefits of the technology and how it can be used – complete with scary/serious voice over (warning, scenes of 9/11 shown):

And it appears that the Department of Homeland Security has “some interest” (entire PDF of letter (378 KB)):

In discussion with my colleagues and immediate superior, we find your ideas have merit and believe it would be of great help on the borders and indeed for anywhere else, for which the temporarily restraint of large numbers of individuals in open area environments by a small number of agents or Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs).  We see the potential uses to include prisoner transportation, detainee control and the military security forces might have some interest.  In addition, it is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes.

So – you never know.  In the near future, you could be wearing a choker and being tasered by some unknown “keeper of the device”. 

Full post as published by Phosita on March 23, 2008 (boomark / email).