I was taking a class at Stanford’s d.school last week and the creative project we were working on had to do with airport security. We spent some time breaking down the entire process and discussing what were some of the feelings we might have of each. One of the things that struck me, is that most people are probably upset but the arbitrary nature of it all. We’d be happy to go through a little hardship if we felt it made a difference. But you know that it’s all just arbitrary. For every kid shaken down for a bottle of water they tried to take through, we can tell stories of someone who forgot they had the water in their bag and made it through.
What can one expect? One or two individuals, no matter how much training, are at the mercy of time, patience, etc.
Which made me think of all the press about the “wisdom of the crowds” and wondered if that might not fit here. How about the plane departure area for each flight be a large oval, with all of the passengers who’ve gone through the “screening” sitting around the edge, watching each new person come in. They all closely scrutinize each new person. The crowd gets to decide whether someone is allowed through (and onto the plane). The crowd decides whether someone has to take off their shoes, open their bags, etc.
That crowd should be better suited and capable of figuring out who needs to be given a closer look, no?
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