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Army Incinerates Old Chemical Weapons In Small Town; What Can A Hacker Do With Your Passwords?; Lance Armstrong Poised To Win Tour de France 5th Straight Time; Body Found Near Waco, Presumed To Be Patrick Dennehy
Aired July 26, 2003 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Today on NEXT@CNN, the Army is about to start incinerating old chemical weapons in a small southern town, and some residents are worried. We'll look at the controversy.
Also, what could a cyber bad guy do if he knew all your computer passwords? Something called spyware makes that a real possibility. We'll tell you how to protect yourself.
And winning the Tour de France takes more than athletic ability and determination. It takes technology. We'll get an inside look.
First, destroying weapons of mass destruction in Anniston, Alabama. The Army is finalizing plans to fire up a new chemical weapons incinerator there this summer. But as David Mattingly explains, after almost a decade, a heated debate continues between the Army and Anniston residents about the best way to dispose of the stockpile.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALICIA GOODWIN, Anniston RESIDENT: Please don't let them start this.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Alicia Goodwin of Anniston, Alabama worries about the unthinkable, that she and thousands of others could one day fall victim to some of the deadliest chemical and nerve agent weapons ever created.
MICHAEL ABRAMS, ARMY INCINERATOR SPOKESMAN: Nerve agent VX, nerve agent GB and mustard agent filled weapons. At Anniston, we have all three types of agents. We also have artillery shells, land mines, rockets.
MATTINGLY: They are dangerous Cold War relics from a time before international treaties banned chemical weapons and ordered their destruction.
Manufactured in the '40s, '50s and '60s, the nation's chemical weapons stockpile, all 64 million pounds of it, has since been in storage at the Anniston Army Depo and eight other locations. Some of it is now so old that the Army reports some of the liquid chemicals have turned to a custard-like gel. In Anniston, 850 of the shells are said to be leaking. TIM GARRETT, INCINERATOR PROJECT MANAGER: And that's an indication of the condition of the stockpile. They're not getting better with age. They were not designed to sit there necessarily for 40 years.
MATTINGLY: Too old to remain in storage, too dangerous to move. So the Army's solution at five locations is to burn them. And to do that, the Army is building huge incinerators, like this one in Anniston.
A $770 million, seven-year long project to destroy the Anniston weapons, then dismantle the plant piece by piece. But while there is generally agreement that the chemical weapons have to go, the plan to incinerate them has divided the city.
GOODWIN: I believe that I'm well informed enough to know that my children aren't going to be safe. I feel that way. I feel like when they start this thing up and my child is outside playing, and that alarm goes off or if he's somewhere else, you know, I want to be with my child if something like this is going to happen.
MATTINGLY: State and Army officials say of all the stockpile locations with incinerators under construction, Anniston is the most densely populated, putting 70,000 people at possible risk if there is an accident.
RUFUS KINNEY, LOCAL ACTIVIST: Even if there isn't an accident, we're going to be continuously exposed to poisonous emissions day and night for the next 10 years.
MATTINGLY: The Army points to similar incinerators in Utah and on the Johnston atoll in the Pacific as a decade-long record of success. While destroying those stockpiles, the Army says there have been three incidents of nerve agents escaping the plant. But, they say, the releases were so small they did not pose a health risk.
Still, additional safety steps have been taken in Anniston in case of similar accidents with the installation of massive charcoal filters.
(on camera): Protesters and some public officials argue they should have been offered a choice, as other communities have, where incinerators were rejected in favor of a process called chemical neutralization. It involves technology that wasn't available at the time the plans for Anniston were first drawn up.
(voice-over): Neutralization is an operation at one location in Maryland, and in development at three other stockpile communities.
ROBERT DOWNING, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSIONER: And from what I can see, every community that's been given a choice as to how they dispose of their chemical weapons has chosen to use an alternate technology, one that's not inherently emissive in nature like incineration. So it's unfortunate that our community was never given a choice.
MATTINGLY: In the meantime, warning sirens have been erected and tested in Anniston. Evacuation routes are mapped out. But plans to pressurize local schools, making them safe havens from a gas cloud, may not be complete by the time the school year begins.
There are 35,000 Anniston residents in what is called the pink zone, the area designated on maps as the most at risk in the event of a chemical release. People living here are eligible for special gas masks and room air filters to create a safe room in their house. But tens of thousands of people have yet to pick up the free equipment.
SHERRI SUMNERS, PRES., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The fact that fewer than half of the people who are eligible to pick up protective devices have done so tells us that we're comfortable where we are. You know, some of us have been familiar with shelter in place for over 40 years, so I think that we are ready to move forward, and certainly the time is now.
MATTINGLY: The clock is ticking at the Anniston incinerator. Test burns have been conducted and a state permit has been approved.
This special media tour was arranged to provide an inside look at the facility, where safety and security is clearly a huge part of the job.
ABRAMS: Everyone who works or visits the Anniston chemical agent disposal facility has to be issued an Army protective mask.
MATTINGLY: For us to view the incinerator, we had to first go through 5.5 hours of briefings, security checks and extensive fittings for a gas mask.
The tour itself took several more hours, starting with the high- tech control center, where engineers oversee the mostly automated operations. Then, through massive rooms, where some of the weapons are cut into pieces and drained of their deadly contents.
ABRAMS: Literally, what we are doing is chopping and dropping the rockets.
MATTINGLY: The nerve agents and the pieces of weapons are then destroyed, incinerated at 2,700 degrees.
ABRAMS: The facility does not cause any danger to the public. In fact, we are decreasing risk by destroying weapons in this facility. We are doing a service, if you will. We are not presenting a safety issue to the community.
MATTINGLY: It is an assertion that some in Anniston refuse to accept, even as the plant readies for its dangerous work, creating a less than peaceful atmosphere for the destruction of some of the Army's deadliest weapons of war.
David Mattingly, CNN, Anniston, Alabama.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: More about the Anniston controversy when we come back. We'll talk with two people who care deeply about it and who are on opposite sides of the fence.
And later in the show, we'll have a live demonstration of some of the technology that makes for a Tour de France winner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOPPEL: Officials in Waco, Texas, will being holding a news conference at 3:30 Eastern time. They'll be talking about the discovery today of a body in the area where they were searching for clues to the disappearance of basketball player Patrick Dennehy. We, of course, will be bringing that to you live as soon as it starts.
Now, back to the controversy in Anniston, Alabama. Is incineration the best way to get rid of those leftover deteriorating chemical weapons, and would your answer be different if the incinerator were next door to your house? Here to discuss the issues are Mike Parker, director of the Chemical Weapons Agency with the U.S. Army, and Craig Williams, executive director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, a nonprofit citizens organization.
Gentlemen, thank you both for joining us.
I'd like to begin with you first, Mr. Parker, and say that Anniston residents have been fired up about this for years. Why do you think that Anniston was not given the choice, whereas other communities were, and whether or not the incinerator would be based in their community?
MICHAEL PARKER, DIRECTOR, CHEMICAL MATERIALS AGENCY: At the time that a technology choice was made for Anniston, there was really only one viable technology available. That was an incineration-based technology. Communities later, the Aberdeen community in Maryland, Newport in Indiana, Bluegrass in Kentucky and Pueblo in Colorado, had input through the form of public involvement, and advised the decision authorities within the Department of Defense on a technology choice. But even in that case, it was still a departmental choice rather than being represented as a community choice.
KOPPEL: Mr. Williams, what is your main concern about this incinerator?
CRAIG WILLIAMS, CHEMICAL WEAPONS WORKING GROUP: Well, there are many of them. I think the first major concern is the track record of the two incinerators that have been operational. They've shown a consistent pattern of not being able to control these very lethal materials reliably. There have been 18 documented live-agent releases out of these facilities, not the three that the Army is quoted in your story as having said occurred, and then there the issue of the chronic toxic emissions that are associated with the operations of these facilities. Even if this deadly nerve agent does not escape, you still have a host of other contaminants that are coming out of the smokestack and being directly deposited into this nearby community that's already severely contaminated from previous industrial operations that took place in this same community.
And if there's a safer way to do this that doesn't release these kinds of toxics and doesn't pose the risk to release chemical warfare agent into the community, then we think it's our government's responsibility to deploy the safest technology available, and that's not incineration.
KOPPEL: Mr. Parker, of course, I'd like you to respond to that. But I think what has folks in Anniston so upset and so nervous about this incinerator is that the Army is not waiting necessarily until these pressurized rooms, which are supposed to be located in schools and churches and other public buildings, they're not waiting for those pressurized rooms to be finished. Why is that?
PARKER: Well, the pressurization of the schools and some other public buildings is under way. I think the radius ultimately agreed to was out 12 miles from the plant site. The identified structures within eight miles have been completed, and the effort's under way to finish out the rest by the October time frame.
The approach that we intend to take at the point of startup is one of a very controlled, low-rate ramp-up of production. We've consulted heavily with the state and with the local officials on this interim processing approach, and we're in general agreement that the measures that have been put in place by the state and the local emergency response personnel is suitable to allow us to go through this controlled, low-rate initial operations.
KOPPEL: Mr. Williams, do you agree?
WILLIAMS: Well, no, I don't, actually. I think that the reality is that the extraordinary measures that are having to be taken, and as you pointed out, have not been completed yet. The fact they're not being completed yet should put this thing on hold until they are. But the extraordinary length that that community is going to because of the kind of technology that they have is a reflection of the risk posed by this technology.
They're neutralizing mustard agent in Aberdeen, they're going to be neutralizing VX agent in Newport, Indiana, soon. They don't have all the schools out 12 miles over pressurized, they haven't issued gas masks. They haven't gone to these extraordinary lengths to try and make the community feel like they're protected.
And I think that that's a direct reflection of the known risk of having an open-ended technology. I mean, you've got a perfect delivery system for a release of nerve gas into that community in the form of a 60-foot smokestack. And when you eliminate that smokestack and you go with low-pressure, low-temperature, controllable technology such as neutralization that are going to be deployed at these other four sites, you mitigate the risks significantly and get a lot closer to the congressional mandate, which is maximum protection.
KOPPEL: Mr. Parker, I'd like to give you the last word, sir, and just explain to our viewers why it is these chemicals cannot just be stockpiled, why they have to be incinerated.
PARKER: Well, the ultimate objective is disposal. The technology issue is really being miscast, and the risk to the public is the continuum of storage and disposal. To isolate down on the technology of disposal loses the focus that the risk to the public is associated with continued storage of the weapons.
The stockpiles at Edgewood and Newport that Mr. Williams identified are a different configuration than the stockpile in Anniston. The stockpile in Anniston presents a much more significant risk and continued storage risk. These weapons are deteriorating. The risk to the community is associated with that stockpile operation rather than the plant operation.
KOPPEL: OK.
PARKER: It's time within that context to move on with a disposal operation, balancing the storage risk to the technology risk associated with incineration. It's clearly time to move the -- and balance those risks, and the risk is such that it is time to dispose of the weapons, and the incineration technology meets all the safety thresholds.
KOPPEL: Understood. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to leave it there. Mike Parker, director of the Chemical Weapons Agency with the U.S. Army. Thank you, sir. And Craig Williams, executive director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group. I thank both of you for joining us today.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
PARKER: Thank you, Andrea.
KOPPEL: When we come back, is someone capturing all your computer keystrokes? It's a bigger danger than you might think. We'll talk to an expert about how to protect yourself from spyware.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOPPEL: Officials in Waco, Texas will be holding a news conference in just a few minutes. You're looking at a live picture of that site. They'll be talking about the discovery today of a body in the area where they were searching for clues to the disappearance of basketball player Patrick Dennehy. A Texas law enforcement official tells CNN authorities believe the body is that of Dennehy's. We'll bring you that news conference live as soon as it starts.
Case closed on a New York man who pled guilty in a computer crime case earlier this month. The man installed spy software on Internet terminals in at least 14 Kinko's stores in New York and recorded more than 150 user names and passwords. He spied on Kinko's customers for over a year and used the information to access online bank accounts.
So how trusting or paranoid should we be when using public commuters? The book "Beyond Fear, Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World" releases in September. Author and security consultant Bruce Schneier joins us now to sort out the story. Mr. Schneier, how did this happen?
BRUCE SCHNEIER, COUNTERPANE INTERNET SECURITY: Basically, what he did was, he accessed the Kinko's terminals. He installed spy software and then left. And then at a later time, he came back and collected the information, eavesdropped, sifted through it and picked out the passwords and user names, account information, whatever he was looking for.
KOPPEL: And so how can we protect, how can not just folks who go to Kinko's, but any of us with computers protect against this?
SCHNEIER: The sad thing is you actually can't. I mean, fundamentally, when you step up to a computer, you have to trust it. You're going to type sensitive information in it. Now, if it's your home computer, it's at home, it's behind a locked door. You're more likely to trust it. If it's a shared computer at a Kinko's, at an airport, at a hotel, or at any Internet cafe around the country, around the planet, effectively you have no way of knowing whether spyware is installed.
And it probably isn't. If you think about, he might have accessed a few hundred people's accounts and there might be hundreds of thousands of people at that Kinko's at one time. The odds are low. But in the end, there's nothing you can actually do. You're forced to trust the computers you're using.
KOPPEL: Well, I understand that one reason that the man was caught is that he started going after online bank accounts. Is online banking a smart idea?
SCHNEIER: You know, online banking is -- it's a tradeoff. All security ends up being a tradeoff. You know, we decide to drive to work. We decide to carry money in our wallets. For some people, online banking is an enormous convenience and it's worth the security risk. There is a risk there. You know, I don't bank online, but mostly because I don't see the value. There are other things I do online. I use my credit cards, I type personal information, and I do it when I think the benefit is worth the tradeoffs.
In the end, everybody has to make that decision. Certainly online banking is more risky than not doing it. And the question everyone has to ask is, is it worth it to you?
KOPPEL: Bruce Schneier, thank you so much, as always, for joining us and helping to shed some light on some confusing subjects. Thank you.
SCHNEIER: Thanks for having me.
KOPPEL: Coming up in our next half hour, we're expecting a live news conference from Waco, Texas, where police have found a body in the area where they were searching for missing college basketball player Patrick Dennehy.
And later, action and drama today in the Tour de France bicycle race, which winds up tomorrow. We'll show you how technology gives riders a competitive edge. First, a quick break and then we'll check the latest headlines.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
KOPPEL: Now back to NEXT@CNN.
A fluke find on the Internet is raising some red flags about electronic voting. Computer security experts say they found vulnerabilities that could lead to vote tampering. Brian Cabell has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If you thought the fiasco with hanging, dimpled, and pregnant chads in the presidential election in Florida, in 2000, dictated a move away from paper ballots and toward electronic voting, you might want to think again. Johns Hopkins University researchers, after studying the computer code for Diebold Elections Systems electronic equipment, have asserted the equipment as vulnerable to massive fraud.
AVI RUBIN, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: I would say a 15-year-old computer science student or someone who is a hobbyist in computers could sit in a garage and manufacture smart cards that could be sold to people and give them the ability to vote unlimited number of times.
CABELL: Researchers got the Diebold code after it was posted anonymously on a public web site earlier this year. 33,000 Diebold voting stations were used in 2002. Including in Georgia where republicans Sonny Perdue and Saxby Chambliss upset the democratic incumbents for governor and U.S. senator. There is no evidence any fraud took place. Diebold insists its voting equipment is secure, but confirms it's studying the research.
MIKE JACOBSEN, DIEBOLD SPOKESPERSON: We really want to pore through that and make sure that -- you know, we're covering our basis in terms of the issues that they uncovered and assuage any public concerns that may be out there.
CABELL: Approximately one-fifth of all U.S. voters now use electronic ballots manufactured by 19 different and competing companies. The trend, especially after the chad crisis, has been toward more electronic voting. Requiring only a touch, it seems easier and more accurate than conventional balloting. Now, however, state elections officials may want to take a second look.
CINDY COHN, ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FDN.: I think it's important now for the companies who have sold these voting machines to the various counties to step forward and demonstrate to the public that the kinds of problems that were found by the Hopkins study, and frankly, there are other reports out there as well, that those don't exist in their systems.
CABELL: The Johns Hopkins researchers emphasize only that electronic voting fraud is possible. They do not claim that any has occurred so far.
Brian Cabell, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: One key to preventing terrorist attacks is finding the vulnerable points. A young Virginia graduate student did just that, and now finds himself caught in a tug of war between freedom of information and security. Kathleen Koch has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN GORMAN, GRADUATE STUDENT: The Crazy spikes shooting off are areas where there's high levels of aggregation or agglomeration of fiber.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fiber optic lines, that is, each as thin as a hair and 26-year-old Sean Gorman knows where they are, all of them. For his dissertation at Virginia's George Mason University, he mapped them.
GORMAN: The physical database of where fiber optics lines are in the country and also what buildings they connect to and the interconnection facilities that link up these different networks together.
KOCH: Fiber optic lines link not only internet and phone networks, but power grids and water systems, air traffic control centers, even banks, and military facilities. Professor Laurie Schintler went with Sean to show his work to leaders of those industries.
LAURIE SCHINTLER, ASST. PROF. OF PUBLIC POLICY: Almost always, with the organizations we're meeting with the comment comes up, we need to take this away from you. We need to classify it.
KOCH: The Department of Homeland Security told Sean it, too, doesn't want his data published.
GORDON JOHNDROE, DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY: It's when all the information is put together into one report that it could be used as a road map for those who might wish to cause us harm.
KOCH: Sean was devastated.
GORMAN: Yeah, well, you know, all this time I've put into my research, is it -- am I not going to be able to do my dissertation or not.
So, there's some of the fiber through the state form one provider and you can add in there.
KOCH: Sean compiled his data from public sources like this Georgia website, but some information has been taken down for security reasons. So, Sean believes his work couldn't be replicated. This model he created shows what happens if a vital fiber optic connection fails.
GORMAN: That uma (PH) there might be a critical link to connecting a whole bunch of West Coast cities.
KOCH: Some experts insist exposing such vulnerabilities can improve national security.
MICHAEL VATIS, SECURITY EXPERT: There is a lot of lag between when companies and the government, frankly, realize that there is a problem and when they take action. And, there's always a need for something to push them along, to light a fire under them, to get them to take concerted action, to protect things.
KOCH (on camera): Utility and financial companies we've seen Sean's work won't talk about it for fear of drawing attention to system weaknesses. Sean promises his dissertation will deal with the methodology and implications of his research. The sensitive data will remain secret.
GORMAN: It's not for sale.
KOCH: At any price?
GORMAN: Fortunately, yes.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: And, when we come back, we're still expecting a live news conference from Waco, Texas, momentarily, where police have found a body in the area where they were searching for missing Baylor basketball player, Patrick Dennehy. We'll bring that to you as soon as it happens. Please stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOPPEL: We're now joined -- joining a live press conference in Waco, Texas, getting underway. Related to the body believed to be that of missing Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...l-a-r-y- l-y-n-c-h, he is the sheriff of McLennan County. He has a brief statement which will also provide in written form following this particular press conference. Since we're not familiar with everyone here, if you would, please, raise your hands, we'll call on you. Please identify who you are. I'm not going to say that today is the only -- this is the only time we're going to have a press conference day, we're not sure. But, any other statements that we may give could be a written statement instead of a actual press conference like we're having now. So at this time I'll turn it on over to Sheriff Lary Lynch.
SHERIFF LARY LYNCH, MCLENNAN COUNTY, TEXAS: OK. At approximately 7:50 yesterday, I was advised of a body being found by the sheriff's office investigator based on the information from Waco Police Department. The location of the body was in an area that has been -- had not been previously searched, but in the general vicinity of areas that we had searched earlier. When I arrived on the scene, I made the decision to secure the scene for the evening because of the fading light. This morning at first light, we began a thorough collection of all evidence and examination of the area where the badly deposed body was found. Around 9 a.m. today, I advised Patrick's family that an unidentified body was found.
The body has been taken to the Dallas Southwest Forensic Lab where an autopsy will be performed, and identification will be made. At this time, Waco Police Department and Baylor department of public safety are on the scene working with the sheriff's office, and all of our investigators out there. So, as the chief said, we'll be able to take a few questions. This is all we know at this time. And then we've got to get back to work.
QUESTION: Sheriff, is there any doubt that this is Dennehy's body, I mean, can you -- could you believe it to be his body, and does the height measure up?
LYNCH: We won't know, the body was badly decomposed, until we get a confirmation from Southwest Forensic Lab.
QUESTION: Can you tell us about what -- was there any clothing on the body or anything like that, tennis shoes or anything?
LYNCH: All of that has been taken to Southwest Forensic Lab.
QUESTION: Can you describe (INAUDIBLE).
LYNCH: Not at this time, no.
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: Sheriff, was there any other evidence found there on the scene where the body was, and was it in a field? Was it partially buried? How and who found it?
LYNCH: Those are aspects of the case that I cannot discuss at this time because of the ongoing investigation. And we have an officer that has followed the body to the forensic lab there in Dallas to give us more information as soon as he can.
QUESTION: You said you were led to the body by information from Waco P.D. Was this provided by Carlton Dotson or another source, or do you know where it came from?
LYNCH: That information cannot be discussed at this time based on the ongoing investigation that we have.
Let's just have one more question.
QUESTION: Was there any identification on the body that would lead to you believe that it was Patrick Dennehy?
LYNCH: None that we've found at this time.
WASH: All right. That's good. Folks, thank you.
LYNCH: We've got to get back to work. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Folks, as we have more information -- comes available, we will release it. We are getting information from the Waco Police Department about your e-mail addresses and ways of contacting you once we have the information that we need to release for you at that time.
We -- I've been in contact with Sergeant Ryan Holt, he is basically down loading those e-mail addresses and contacts in which he's been able to obtain over the last several weeks, to do that. At this time we do have a written statement prepared in which Sheriff Lynch has given. If you'll turn around, a gentleman, Captain Paul Wash in the blue shirt, has those written statements...
KOPPEL: You've been listening to a press conference in Waco, Texas, with Sheriff Lary Lynch of the McLennan County in Waco reporting on the discovery of a body earlier today just outside -- just about five miles from the Baylor University campus where Baylor University basketball player, Patrick Dennehy, was last seen about a month ago. Police leaving more questions than answers, saying that there is a forensic lab where the body is right now, was badly decomposed, and the autopsy is underway to determine whether or not, in fact, this is Patrick Dennehy. Obviously, painful moment for family and friends. CNN will, of course, be following that and we'll bring you the latest as the day progresses.
We'll be back with more news right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID KIRKPATRICK, "FORTUNE" SR. EDITOR: The thing about Hewlett-Packard, it seems kind of hard to get a real handle on what Hewlett-Packard is because it isn't as distinctive in some ways as some of its competitors. We know Dell is the direct PC company, IBM is the enterprise computing company with a heavy emphasis on services. Hewlett-Packard, you don't want to call it a printer company, because that's not really true, because it has all this other stuff. But, it seems a little hard to get a grip on it. Hewlett-Packard dominates the world's printer business, and printers is a very good business because once you sell somebody a printer, you've got the opportunity to sell them the printer ink.
HP does face a lot of challenges. Can they really compete with IBM in services? And, when we talk about services in I.T., we mean all the things that help companies get their software, hardware working together and keep it working. And that's a very lucrative business.
HP is very committed to staying in the full-range of areas they're in now, which would be printers, PCs, enterprise hardware, a little bit of enterprise software, a lot of storage, and a lot of services. Those are their main businesses. And those are all businesses they're going to continue to try to grow.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's virtual reality imitating life. Strap on the right gear, and this animated character makes every move you make almost as you're making it. It's called live actor, developed at the University of Pennsylvania. Players in this virtual world wear a special suit that positions 30 infrared light centers on various parts of the body. As a person moves, 540 cameras track the sensors. The data is fed to a computer, and a virtual reality character comes to life on a seven-foot stereo screen.
NORM BADLER, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: The display is what's called passive stereo. Basically you just wear polarized glasses -- sunglasses, and each eye gets a different image. So, these characters appear to be right in the space, full size, performing or interacting with you. And it's very effective, it's very different to interact with people that are 6 feet high than 3 inches high on the TV screen.
KELLAN: Researchers plan in the future to use the technology in video games and in training sessions, where the character will be programmed to react to your moves instead of just mimicking them.
Ann Kellan, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: One of the most grueling events in sports comes to an end this weekend, the Tour de France bicycle race. And, after more than 2,000 miles, the outcome came down to a rain-soaked 30-mile time trial this morning on the eve of the tour's victory ride into Paris, tomorrow. After a strong ride today, it is almost certain that American Lance Armstrong will win, tying the all-time record with his fifth consecutive victory.
Joining us now, to give us an inside look at technology that made this year's tour one of the fastest ever is CNN technology correspondent, Daniel Sieberg, with a very special guest.
Hi there, Daniel.
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Thanks, Andrea. You know, it comes down to every second. Every second counts when we're talking about competitive cycling. So, their often -- the riders are looking for everything from a different training method to new equipment, and technology, of course, is a big part of all that. And joining me, right now, is Mari Holden, World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist. And, you're going to help us walk through some of this technology. And, some of the stuff that Lance is using right now on the tour. Let's start over here on this table right here, because you brought in something yourself.
MARI HOLDEN, WORLD CHAMPION TIME TRIALIST: Right.
SIEBERG: That you use to help train. It looks like -- what is this we've got right here?
HOLDEN: This is a bicycle crank and it's called the SRM and I use this in training. It's basically a power meter, and I can measure my watts. And, like on this screen, here, it's telling you my average power was 106 and my cadence was 61 and...
SIEBERG: Is this something you're using in daily, sort of, training that you've got going, not just in a -- not in a race necessarily, but when you're preparing for a race?
HOLDEN: Right, I use this in daily training and I can do intervals on there and I do everything by power all, of my training by power...
SIEBERG: And by power, you're talking about the output from your body right into the bike?
HOLDEN: Right. I -- It's all in watts and I can just see my exact workout while I'm doing it and I can then download it into my computer and watch -- see the graphs when I'm done.
SIEBERG: OK. All right, well lets...
HOLDEN: Yeah, it's great.
SIEBERG: OK, let's move on. This is a friend we've brought in. We're going to talk a little bit more about other bikes and some other frames. But, we wanted to give people an idea for just how light it is. Now, this one is cut in half, if you can pick that one up, there. You've got a -- another frame that's fully together. These weigh just like a few pounds.
HOLDEN: Yeah, they're super light, I mean, two and a half, three pounds for a road frame. And, this one here is a Cannondale frame, and it's cut in half, and you can see that it's all just, I mean, it's super light. I don't know how to...
SIEBERG: Right. And it's welded together here the different corners to keep it light, as well. And, you've also got a heart-rate monitor, something else that you use. You were saying, this was more for sort of the amateur end, people starting this sport.
HOLDEN: Right, people who are starting in the sport, start out with heart-rate monitors, and it's basically a way you can monitor your training, see what your heart rate is. But, as you get more and more elite into this sport, you want to be using power and -- so, this is good for your entry-level cyclist.
SIEBERG: OK, and we couldn't help but notice that you're wearing a particular biking outfit. And, we've got some here that Lance is going to be -- is using on the tour. Now, these are made of a special -- four different types of fabric, I believe.
HOLDEN: Right. I've heard this skin suit's supposed to cut off approximately one minute off his time trial times and you can see that it's got all kinds of different material, and... SIEBERG: If you can hold that one just for a second, I'm going to pick up this other one we've got here and, you know, the one you've got on is -- for comfort but for streamline, as well.
HOLDEN: Right, this is -- I mean, the one I have on, you would be using every day in training. It's not aerodynamic, obviously, you've got material flapping around a little, but you know, this is going to be completely skin-tight.
SIEBERG: Absorbing the sweat and everything on your body, as well.
HOLDEN: Right. Well, hopefully this is going to help himself cool himself, too. You see, you've got the fabric does the wicking there and everything. So, this is going to help him go faster.
SIEBERG: OK. All right. Well, these are from Nike, we should point out. And, now we're going to move into the bikes, here. We -- Atlanta Cycling has loaned us some bikes, here. And, this is the first one. This is the -- a road bike. All right, why don't you tell me -- what's the difference between...
HOLDEN: Right. This is a road bike, it's got 18 speeds, and this is what you would use everyday in training. And the only major difference that we would do in a race is we would change our pedals into clipless pedals, so we're attached to the pedals. But, these bikes are super light, 17 pounds, really fast, very stiff.
SIEBERG: We're seeing footage, right now, of Lance in the tour. This is what -- were you saying that this is what he would ride everyday in most of the tour?
(CROSSTALK)
HOLDEN: In most of the tour, in the road stages, he would be using this bike. Yeah.
SIEBERG: OK.
HOLDEN: Yeah.
SIEBERG: Great. All right, we're going to move from this one over to the one that he would have been using during the time trials and I'm going to bring in other guest, right now, Brandon Vaughn from Atlanta Cycling is going to also talk about some of the technology in these bikes.
Brandon, what is the difference between this bike and the road bike, in particular?
BRANDON VAUGHN, ATLANTA CYCLING: Well, the biggest difference between the time trial bikes and the standard road bikes, the time trial bike, the frame is completely designed to be aerodynamic, thus the tubes are very thin, and if you're looking at the front of the bike, the tubes are very thin and aerodynamic so the wind flow as cross it very smooth. They also have disk wheels which can save up to two minutes on a 40-k time trial. They also have aerobars at the front of the bike, so you rider can keep his arms closer together and make it a lot more aerodynamic.
SIEBERG: And, Mari, when you're riding, how important is all this just for comfort's sake, as well, to -- when you're riding?
HOLDEN: Well, a time trial position isn't the most comfortable position. Obviously, you're leaned way over and it's not super comfortable, but, it is the fastest position. And we do lots of testing in the wind tunnel, and with the SRM to find out a balance between what is actually your most aerodynamic position that you can produce power in.
SIEBERG: OK, well, speaking of producing power, we're going to get Brandon to produce a little power. If you can hop on this other bike that we've got over here. And, Brandon, what this now -- this almost a little bit different, again. What a lot of people -- what fascinated me was the shifters, that you've got down here. Tell me about those.
VAUGHN: Yeah. This bike is a -- this bike is actually set up on a stationary trainer, so I can pedal and I can shift through my gears. These gears are actually integrated into my brake lever. But, it makes it very comfortable and easy to shift, you know, while you're riding in a group because your brakes are right at your fingertips, but also your shifting is there, so it makes it much easier.
SIEBERG: Now, Mari, you've been riding for a little over 10 years, now. How has the technology -- how has technology changed over that time for you?
HOLDEN: Oh, my goodness, I mean, it seems like everything -- it improves -- everything they do improves a little bit, you know, like the frames are lighter so you can go uphill faster. We do a lot of testing in the wind tunnels, so your position gets better and it gets more aerodynamic. And, like Lance had his bars specially made for the tour and everything. So, it's all those little advances that turn into seconds over the long haul.
SIEBERG: Seconds over the long haul, exactly.
HOLDEN: That's what counts, yeah.
SIEBERG: All right. Mari Holden, Olympic Silver Medalist and World Champion and Brandon Vaughn from Atlanta Cycling, thanks so much for joining us.
And you know, Andrea, we -- I think it was eight seconds was the closest margin of victory in one of the races, so -- you know it does count. Everything that -- every advantage you can get, whether it's technology or training. And I think you've got to be in good shape, too.
KOPPEL: Absolutely. I was just going to say that I had read Lance Armstrong's suit that he wore is dimpled the way that a golf ball is to give him that little aerodynamic push. So, clearly they are looking at every single angle they can get. Daniel, thank you so much.
SIEBERG: All right.
KOPPEL: Well, we want to thank you for joining us. Unfortunately we've run out of time for today. But, NEXT will be back tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Among the stories we'll be covering then: Why do some dolphins like to live in deeper waters far away from coastlines? Researchers are tracking some of these dolphins, and we'll show you how you can get in on the act. That story and more coming up tomorrow, hope you'll be watching them and thank you for joining us today.
Ahead on "CNN Live Saturday," coming up at the top of the hour, that includes the "Dollar Signs" segment in about half hour, we'll take your calls and e-mails about the best ways to become financially independent. That's followed by "People in the News" at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time with profiles of Lacy and Scott Peterson and John Walsh.
Then it's "CNN Live Saturday," 6:00 Eastern, with a live report from Waco, Texas, on the search for the body of missing basketball player, Patrick Dennehy, plus a report from the inside the 25th birthday party of the world's first test tube baby. First a quick break and then we'll tell you what's happening at this hour.
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KOPPEL: A new round of deadly violence in Liberia. What problems U.S. troops may be facing if they're sent in. We'll have a live report.
A last-minute death penalty appeal: Why a key piece of evidence was never tested and what jurors in the case are demanding be done.
The threats against the D.A. in the Kobe Bryant case. Why the FBI is getting involved.
This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY, I'm Andrea Koppel. Those stories and more coming up. Also ahead, the eight steps to financial security on "Dollar Signs," coming up at the half hour, you can call or e-mail us with your questions, but first, the top stories at this hour.
Police are examining a body they found near Waco, Texas. It's still not known if it's Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy who has gone missing since mid-June. An autopsy is underway. Dennehy's former teammate and roommate Carlton Dotson has been charged with killing him.
Another deadly day for U.S. troops in pos-war Iraq. Three 4th Infantry Division soldiers guarding a hospital north of Baghdad where killed in a grenade attack, today.
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Can A Hacker Do With Your Passwords?; Lance Armstrong Poised To Win Tour de France 5th Straight Time; Body Found Near Waco, Presumed To Be Patrick Dennehy>
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