Camera that can see through clothes hits Dubai

X-RAY CAMERA: The T5000 can detect hidden explosives, drugs and weapons on a person.

Dubai Mercantile Exchange is to deploy a new x-ray camera that can see through clothing to detect hidden explosives, drugs and weapons, it was reported on Monday.

British broadcaster the BBC said the commodities exchange and Canary Wharf in London were among the first buyers of the portable camera, known an as the T5000 Security Imaging System.

The camera has been developed by UK-based Thruvision and is to be unveiled at the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) Exhibition on March 12-13.

The T5000 can detect both metallic and non-metallic threat objects under clothing on still or moving subjects from up to 25 metres away.

Although it can see through clothing, the camera does not reveal "body detail".

"You see a silhouette of the form [of a body] but you don't see surface anatomical effects," a Thruvision spokesperson told the BBC.

Thruvision said the camera uses technology originally developed by astronomers to see far off stars.

The camera detects low level energy known as Terahertz rays, or T-rays, that is naturally emitted from all materials, including rocks, plants, animals and people, the company said.

The T5000 passively collects T-rays and processes them to form images that reveal concealed objects hidden under a person’s clothing, it added.

Thruvision said camera did not subject people to any harmful radiation associated with traditional x-ray security screening.

Dubai Mercantile Exchange was not immediately available for comment when contacted by ArabianBusiness.com.

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READERS' COMMENTS

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TRays are safe.
Posted by shekhar, Bangalore, India on Saturday 29 March 2008 at 13:05 UAE time


T Rays cannot penetrate waterbodies or metals.Your article must also say that it is safe to use this device,to instill confidence among readers. Eventuallywhen the costs come affordable, this device will be pervasive and be very useful in

T-Rays "collected". No X-Rays "emitted"
Posted by Shijaz, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Thursday 13 March 2008 at 13:14 UAE time


I agree with Rodger. The device just sits there and "passively" collects T-Rays which are already emitted by the objects and then makes images out of them. It has nothing to do with X-Rays so the description is wrong.

T-ray camera
Posted by Rodger, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 11 March 2008 at 09:17 UAE time


The system does not use X-rays at all, your article should not use the term "x-ray" as a generic description of see-through systems. X-ray detectors are active (they emit radiation), whereas this system is passive and detects rays that are present naturally.

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