# Downsized Weapon Detectors NYPD Developing a Portable Body Scanner to Make NYC Streets Safer By Michael Hines | Published 2012-01-22 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-body-scanner References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/nypd-portable-gun-scanner/21147/) & [nypost](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_developing_new_device_to_detect_HpGz6WUXC9Ji7qaifcCxkN?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME) The [NYPD](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ring-neighbors) is developing a portable body scanner in an attempt to make the streets of the Big Apple safer. The device is designed to detect whether a person is carrying a firearm without an officer actually having to frisk them. The scanner shoots infrared rays at a suspect. The rays cannot pass through metal, and when they do hit metal they give an outline of the blockage alerting cops to the possible possession of a weapon. The device has a limited range of about three to four feet, but the NYPD hopes to be able to expand the technology to have a range of about 82 feet. A portable body scanner may sound like a terrible invasion of privacy, but it is actually a smart invention for both citizens and the police. Stop and frisk searches have long been decried as invasions of civil liberties. Additionally, asking a police officer to search a possibly armed person is as dangerous to the officer as it is invasive to the person being searched. A portable body scanner would allow cops to indiscriminately search large amounts of people safely and efficiently. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Portable Body Scanners:** The development of portable body scanners has the potential to revolutionize search protocols for law enforcement. - **Infrared Ray Detection:** Infrared ray detection technology is an innovative solution for detecting weapons without physical contact. - **Expanded Scanning Range:** The potential expansion of scanning range for body scanners has great potential for increased safety measures in various industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Law Enforcement:** The use of portable body scanners could have significant implications for safety measures and police protocol within the law enforcement industry. - **Security Screening:** The expansion of scanning range for body scanners could have far-reaching applications in the security screening industry, optimizing safety protocols in public spaces. - **Transportation:** The development of portable body scanners could significantly improve safety measures within the transportation industry by providing streamlined security screening processes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Discreet Portable Tasers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taser-device.md) - [Autonomous Threat Detection Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/threat-detection-system.md) - [AI-Powered Body Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fitme-3d-body-scanner.md) - [At-Home Health Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/withings-body-scan.md) - [Preventative Body Health Scans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neko-body-scan.md) - [Compact Body Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-body-camera.md) - [Contraband-Detecting Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/narc-robot-concept.md) - [Pocket-Sized 3D Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inspire-3d-scanner.md) - [Hidden Camera Detector Keychains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-hidden-camera-detector.md)