I am sure that there is no person who has never gone through a metal detector, be it in an airport, a shopping center, a cinema or similar. Detectors are used as a security measure, and walking to a secure area after going through a metal detector can be really overwhelming. Saying this in a few simple words: metal detectors make people feel safe!
The feeling of security can be created in an airport, university, office building or any other area where these detectors are used. The people who use them can control who enters a specific area and what is inside.
There are different types and models of security detectors, but the most used are the handheld models and the walk-through models. With the help of a hand detector, security personnel can physically detect if someone is carrying a metal object. On the other hand, walk-through metal detectors are much faster and alert security personnel to dangerous objects such as knives or weapons.
The operation of metal detectors is quite simple: they use the principles of electromagnetic induction to detect metal objects. The detection of a dangerous object is notified with a simple alarm beep.
In case you need a metal detector, and you still don’t know which one to choose, here are some advantages of the two mentioned models. First, handheld detectors are more affordable and can identify metal objects that are considered potentially dangerous in the same way as walk-through detectors. On the other hand, step models are more convenient and more efficient. In general, if you can’t make up your mind, it is recommended that you go for both models, as this way you will surely maximize security in the area that requires security measures.
Detectors are able to deter would-be criminals because this way they will think twice after realizing that they have to go through a detector to gain entry into a specific area.
As for the disadvantages of using security detectors, these are mainly privacy issues. Many people can find it uncomfortable to go through a detector when trying to inspect if they have any potentially dangerous metal objects. In some cases they may request to be registered manually when security regulations allow it.
Furthermore, in this advantageous medical age, we can find many medical reasons why a person may have metal in their body. Sometimes metal devices can be surgically installed inside a person’s body, causing the alarm to go off each time the person passes through a metal detector. In many cases, security personnel may see on their computers that the metal object that caused the alarm is actually a harmless tool and not a weapon.
As already stated, metal detectors create electromagnetic fields. This can cause electrical interference in electronic devices that a person may have in their power. This includes medical devices like pacemakers. Some metal detectors can damage pacemakers because they have a very strong electromagnetic field. In this case, such detectors can be fatal for those people, and it is highly recommended that they avoid passing through them.
In many situations, metal detectors can give a false alarm if people are wearing any type of jewelry, watch, phone, loose change, or the like. This can make some people feel embarrassed and can cause panic for no reason. A false alarm caused by detectors can be inconvenient for both security personnel and the person for whom the alarm was triggered.
