Epicenter in Sweden has been implanting microchips into its workers, apparently. It sounds like quite an extreme measure but its a simple alternative to a swipe card or ID badge.
Looks like the age of cyborgs has already started. Biohax Sweden offers to implant these rice-grain-sized microchips between the thumb and index finger of Swedish startup hub Epicenter employees. The idea behind it is to act as a form of ID or verification on site.
This means employees can open doors, activate printers and even buy smoothies, all at the wave of a hand. It turns out that these microchips have become so popular in Epicenter, that people are holding parties for those will to have them.
The type of technology isn’t new to us, and has been used before in pet collars and delivery tracking. This is the first time it has been used in humans on a broad scale though. Epicenter is the first company to implement this practice at such a scale, and it may become more common in time.
X-ray image showing where the chip is implanted in the hand. (Image: Your News Wire)
Is it a good idea?
However, this technology comes with a few drawbacks. Mainly to do with security and privacy. While this implant is biologically safe, it can’t be parted with so easily like a phone or card is. It also reveals how often someone is at work as well as what they’re buying. In a way, there’s the possibility that the data on this chip could be abused to spy on employees.
The data stored on the chip is quite different to a smart phone or pass. Hackers could gain access to all sorts of data such as health, whereabouts, how long you’re working, how long you’re taking on the bogs etc. It raises the concern of who collects this data, and what do they use it for?
It sounds like something from a dystopian sci-fi thriller of sorts, but this is very real. If we can get past these security issues then this may well be a standard practice everywhere someday.
Source: CNBC