Jared Moya
September 13th, 2006, 10:40 AM
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--The airport of tomorrow might have virtual intelligence agents that check your bags, "smart dust" sensor networks that vet passengers heading through security and commuter pilots who fly the plane from a home office.
That is, if Dave Evans' vision is to be believed. As chief technologist for Cisco Systems' Internet Business Solutions Group Innovations Team, Evans set the stage Tuesday for technology innovations that will help shape the future of airport travel here at the opening of the FAA/NASA/Industry Airport Planning Workshop.
"This is a great time to innovate," Evans said as he delivered the keynote speech at the two-day conference held at NASA's Ames Research Center here.
Evans' wide-ranging technology predictions were met with excitement and fear among airport industry executives in attendance. They also met plenty of skepticism, given that the airport industry is still lagging on the most urgent technological needs, such as improved security devices to scan luggage and passengers for bombs and other dangerous devices headed onto planes. Advances in technology and security systems are too mired in government regulations and approvals to advance, according to some executives attending the conference.
"I think it's a real challenge for government to react to technology changes, whether it's security or flying," Steve Martin, chief financial officer at the North American division of industry association Airports Council International, said while speaking on a panel following Evans' speech. "I don't see government agencies being able to keep up with technology's exponential growth."
Despite the real-world challenges, Evans described several technologies that could ultimately benefit and change the airport industry.
http://news.com.com/Will+airport+of+the+future+fly/2100-1008_3-6115126.html?tag=nefd.lede
That is, if Dave Evans' vision is to be believed. As chief technologist for Cisco Systems' Internet Business Solutions Group Innovations Team, Evans set the stage Tuesday for technology innovations that will help shape the future of airport travel here at the opening of the FAA/NASA/Industry Airport Planning Workshop.
"This is a great time to innovate," Evans said as he delivered the keynote speech at the two-day conference held at NASA's Ames Research Center here.
Evans' wide-ranging technology predictions were met with excitement and fear among airport industry executives in attendance. They also met plenty of skepticism, given that the airport industry is still lagging on the most urgent technological needs, such as improved security devices to scan luggage and passengers for bombs and other dangerous devices headed onto planes. Advances in technology and security systems are too mired in government regulations and approvals to advance, according to some executives attending the conference.
"I think it's a real challenge for government to react to technology changes, whether it's security or flying," Steve Martin, chief financial officer at the North American division of industry association Airports Council International, said while speaking on a panel following Evans' speech. "I don't see government agencies being able to keep up with technology's exponential growth."
Despite the real-world challenges, Evans described several technologies that could ultimately benefit and change the airport industry.
http://news.com.com/Will+airport+of+the+future+fly/2100-1008_3-6115126.html?tag=nefd.lede