Wired has a lengthy article on the homeland security technology market. Fear Inc. likens the feeding frenzy surrounding homeland security in metro DC to the dot-com boom in the Silicon Valley.
It’s interesting to see how people outside the Beltway view this market – the Byzantine procurement rules, applied research and commercialization, downstream revenue from state and local governments, venture funding, holding companies and so on. This boom market will last for some time because “no elected representative wants to be seen as having rejected funding for the prevention of a catastrophic event that actually occurs.�
Take a look at the sidebar called Profits of Doom (don't you love these sinister titles?). It’s an at-a-glance look at a handful of complex programs. Here’s the section on US Visit:
The fear: Terrorists enter the country
The Pitch: US-Visit, a "virtual border" entry and exit system that uses digital photos, databases, and biometrics to track visitors.
Developer: Accenture (with subcontracts to Raytheon, Titan, and SRA International)
Funding: $10 billion (projected)
Source: Department of Homeland Security
WIRED's take: US-Visit is riddled with old technology and reportedly screens less than 1 percent of foreign visitors.
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