“Recently a Swedish company started implanting microchips under their employee’s skin”. (Brooks, 2017). Could you image yourself having a microchip between your thumb and index finger with which you could do literally everything that bothers your daily life?
About the company
Biohax International is the company behind this new technology that could revolutionize our daily life. The company was founded in 2013 by Jowan Österlund who had 15 years’ experience in sterile procedures for piercing and body modification (Biohax, 2018). Currently, up to 4,000 Swedes are chipped and the company also could get into partnerships with offices, gyms or secret secured areas that support the new technology connected with the microchips (Biohax, 2018).
How does the technology exactly work?
The microchip works with the NFC (Near Field Communication) Technology, which is nowadays also used in everyone’s life. For example, within mobile phones, transit systems or credit cards with contactless payment. By using NFC in the microchip, it is possible to use all the mediums that are using NFC via the chip implanted. For example, the chip saves all your personal data like passport data, health history, credit card data. Practically, this means you can pay with a hand waving or in the case of an accident doctors immediately know what medicaments you take. Furthermore, also gym access, loyalty cards, other membership programs, office access, car and door keys can be replaced by the chip in your hand. Via an app on your smartphone you can connect and activate the chip with the respective function you like.
Using the microchips also holds an advantage regarding a sustainable environment. All plastic cards, that are usually produced by using non-recyclable PET could be replaced.
Challenges
However, some might wonder if using a chip is not challenging regarding health issues, data security or constant tracking. At least the latter can be neglected as the chip does not have GPS features.
Do microchips have the potential to change our way of living? Are the advantages and the comfort it offers overweight the challenges?
Biohax. (2018). A global market leader. [online]. Available at: https://www.biohax.tech/
Brooks, J. (2017). A Swedish company has started implanting microchips under its employees’ skin. Business Insider. [online]. Availabe at: https://www.businessinsider.com/startup-workers-wearing-microchips-2017-4?international=true&r=US&IR=T
AP Archive. (2017). Workers Get Implanted Chips for Access. You tube. [online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VleiVpmMkEE
