Report Highlights Overlooked Ergonomics in Borders Technology

A news report on May 17 about face- and fingerprint-matching equipment in place at the United States-Mexican border serves as a reminder that sophisticated technology has no value when the ergonomics of using it hasn’t been considered. According to the Associated Press (AP) report, US border inspectors almost never use the equipment because hours-long traffic jams are already common and the equipment slows down the screening process.

Sandra Raynes, consular officer at the US consulate in Tijuana told AP that lines would stretch “all the way down to Cabo San Lucas,” about 1,770 kilometres south of San Diego, if they were to check everyone.

The cardholders who are checked are asked to press their fingers against a glass and pose for a photo, while their card pulls up their biometric file