[Infowarrior] - TSA launches search for the perfect laptop bag

[Richard Forno]

TSA launches search for the perfect laptop bag

By Jacob Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief

Published March 4th, 2008

http://gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/542.html

Relief may be on the way for the one-quarter of the flying public who
routinely carry laptop computers through airport security checkpoints and
currently are required to remove their laptops from their protective
carrying bags.

The Transportation Security Administration is interested in evaluating --
and eventually approving ­- the design of certain laptop bags, so travelers
would be permitted to pass through security checkpoints without having to
remove their laptops.

"If TSA was able to eliminate this requirement, it could lower passenger
stress levels, increase checkpoint throughput, and reduce the number of
claims TSA receives for laptops that have been damaged during screening,"
said a TSA request for information (RFI) published March 3.

The key is for TSA screeners to be able to view the laptop in a single X-ray
image, so the laptop would not need to be placed in a separate TSA bin.

To accomplish this, the TSA RFI pointed out that the laptop bag would need
to meet the following requirements:

€ The carrying bag cannot exceed any one of the proposed dimensions ­ 16
inches in height, 24 inches wide and 36 inches long.
€ The materials that make up the bag cannot degrade the quality of the X-ray
image of the laptop.
€ No straps, pockets, zippers, handles or closures of the bag can interfere
with the image of the laptop.
€ No electronics, chargers, batteries, wires, paper products, pens or other
contents of the bag can shield the image of the laptop.

TSA is inviting bag designers and manufacturers to come up with creative
ways to meet these design requirements, but it has also suggested three
concepts of its own:

€ A bag that would open completely, and lie horizontally on the X-ray belt,
such that one side with hold only the laptop.
€ A bag that would open completely, leaving the laptop standing vertically,
supported by clips.
€ A bag that would pull apart in separate compartments, with one compartment
containing only the laptop.

Interested vendors have until April 17 to submit white papers describing
their best concepts. Those companies selected by TSA will have until the end
of May to submit prototype laptop cases based on as many as three different
concepts. TSA will subject these prototypes to single-view, multi-view and
computed tomography X-ray screening equipment to see if the images have
sufficient resolution and clarity and are not shielded by other contents of
the bag.

"TSA will use the results of the tests to evaluate whether it can eliminate
the requirement to remove laptops from bags for certain types of bags," said
the RFI.

Vendors can contact Melissa Conley, a contract specialist in TSA¹s office of
acquisitions, at 571-227-2036.