by Hank Rahe
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Do you remember being afraid of the dark when you were a child? Americans are now facing a new darkness. We are being told that in the months ahead we should expect changes in the way we go about our daily lives. Once again we need to look to the source that brought us reassurance as a child. No, I'm not talking about installing night-lights across America, but rather using technology to create light that will bring us out of this darkness.
America has always been a diverse nation of innovative people, and when faced with a threat to our freedom and safety, that innovation has often been realized through invention or adaptation of technology. We have not always been the inventors of the technologies, but we do possess the ability to transform the technology into solutions needed to control our world.
Contamination control technology, which we have commonly used to protect our products and people in the workplace, is quickly being adapted to deal with new threats, such as the contamination of our postal system.
The use of barrier isolation technology offers a closed environment for inspection of mail and packages. Integrated with closed transfer systems, the incoming mail and packages can be processed and safely disposed, if the need arises, without coming into direct contact with personnel. In the future, potent agents used in acts of terrorism may not be as simple or easy to visually detect, therefore systems must be capable of protecting against agents ranging from viruses to chemicals.
As these challenges appear, our control technologies must be ready to make the statement to terrorists that our technology base and our ingenuity is a greater weapon and can adapt to meet any threat.
Mail and package handling systems being developed must be able to handle a variety of sizes and volumes of materials to accommodate the smallest office or major, high-volume user. The level of technology can range from a simple, safe place to inspect mail and packages, to an entire system incorporating a way of transmitting uncontaminated copies of documents outside the barrier isolator.
It is possible to deliver the documents electronically and completely eliminate the hassle of moving paper. During this challenge, American ingenuity may change the way we communicate in written form.
The system for sending mail and packages could offer a closed environment from the point the customer deposits the mail, through pick-up, sorting and to final destination. Customer deposit containers (mailboxes) could have a simple closing mechanism that would seal them when ready for transport to the sorting location. Sorting machines can be docked to the incoming containers and after sorting the mail and packages, could be placed into transport containers for safe removal to the next location. The containers would dock to another barrier isolator at the receiving point for final breakdown and delivery to the customer. Individual mail could be bagged for delivery, since it is the least likely target.
Depending on the volume, business mail could be bagged or placed in containers that would dock to the business barrier isolator. At the business location, the break down and internal delivery becomes a matter of choice. If the company believes that they can detect a contaminated piece of mail or package after opening the container they can remove it from containment. If they wish to take the safest route, the information can be sent out electronically.
If all of this sounds too far fetched, think of the child put to bed with an oil lamp and how technology has brought us to the flick of a switch.
Hank Rahe is director of technology at Contain-Tech in Indianapolis. He is a member of the CleanRooms Editorial Advisory Board.