Smart airport upgrade

Wait- time info will help put travelers at ease

When a new technology is presented and it involves cameras and artificial intelligence the likes of which have been introduced at the Pittsburgh International Airport, it’s good to think twice before clapping hands together.

The airport has unveiled a new technique touted as one that will contribute to the goal of making Pittsburgh International the “smartest” airport in the country. The benefit: An AI enhancement working through already-installed cameras will allow people to know how long they have to wait in line to clear security.

It’s important to remember that there’s often a downside to technological advancements. Example: Alexa may help you get your grocery shopping done without leaving the couch, but it also listens to your conversation even when you don’t want it to. In some cities in China, facial recognition is used to track ethnic minorities.

In this case, however, the technology passes the smell test. The goal to up the technology ante at Pittsburgh International — to make it one of the “smartest” in the nation — is a good idea. And an airport is a place where watchful cameras don’t constitute a step toward big brother dystopia but to security and convenience.

The cameras being used were already in place at the airport. That mitigates concerns about privacy issues. And the costs associated with the technology upgrade were reduced by virtue of having the cameras already available.

The start- up costs are around $ 3,200 and, after that, the expense will be about $ 540 a month. That’s a low price considering the advantages of the new technique. For passengers, this will make planning a trip easier. And it signals Pittsburgh’s cuttingedge nature. It’s also a good advertisement for the firm that developed the new technology, Zensors Inc., another entity that’s helping Pittsburgh build its reputation as a contemporary city worth flying into not just for a short visit but for a long stay.