Shoe scanner plans afoot

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing out new shoe scanning systems manufactured by L3 Communications at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

When they are fully deployed, the scanners will enable passengers to keep their shoes on when they go through a security checkpoint, eliminating the biggest complaint about the security screening process.

Since the testing is solely for data collection, the shoe scanners will be positioned in front of walk-through metal detectors and passengers will still need to remove their shoes to go through the screening process.

Last year, the TSA tested out some shoe scanners made by GE, but found that they could not detect explosives with absolute certainty.

The US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division is also testing shoe scanners and will share its findings with the TSA.