As a Thermal Imaging (TI) trainer, I travel to a variety of places and have the privilege of being able to train a large number of people. As a trainer, I've come to learn that the first thing I must do before I begin a session is to erase the myths surrounding thermal imaging.

It's been my experience that any technology that is different and not immediately understood falls victim to myths very quickly. Thermal Imaging myths can stem from many different origins. Generally, people who have never experienced thermal imaging first hand often revert to what I like to call the Hollywood Effect. When you ask someone if they've ever seen a TI in use, they usually respond, "Thermal Imaging. Oh yeah, I saw that once in a movie." That's where the trouble can start. Much like the creatures and bad guys we see on TV, seeing a TI used in a movie doesn't mean it's used the same way in reality. However, for most people, this myth isn't erased until they experience a TI first hand and see its true capabilities.

The Hollywood Effect can be a negative thing when the TI is seen with all sorts of space-aged special effects and abilities that are not a reality. Because of this, when some law enforcement officers get a TI they expect it to do magical things. The TI does have some amazing abilities, but these are often misunderstood without proper training and understanding. So let's look at some of the myths associated with a TI to give you a better understanding of what your TI can truly do for you.

A TI can see through walls.

This myth takes us to a movie called Navy Seals, where a sniper was seeing bad guys through walls. He then shoots through the wall and takes out a couple terrorists. Cool, but not real. The truth is a TI can see differences in the temperatures in buildings and structures. So you can see wall studs, window frames, a/c ducts, etc. If anyone has made any changes to the original structure, you may be able to see that as well. When you change the density of an object, it will emit a slightly different temperature. This difference in temperature is visible on your TI. Want a real life example? Instead of using a TI to see through walls, officers use their TI consistently to pinpoint hidden compartments in a wall where criminals have stashed weapons or drugs.

A TI can be blocked by mud on the body or cold water.