The news appeared on Monday, I wonder why it wasn't posted here yet.
The syringe slides in between the thumb and index finger. Then, with a click, a microchip is injected in the employee's hand. Another "cyborg" is created.
What could pass for a dystopian vision of the workplace is almost routine at the Swedish startup hub Epicenter. The company offers to implant its workers and startup members with microchips the size of grains of rice that function as swipe cards: to open doors, operate printers, or buy smoothies with a wave of the hand.
The injections have become so popular that workers at Epicenter hold parties for those willing to get implanted.
"The biggest benefit I think is convenience," said Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter. As a demonstration, he unlocks a door by merely waving near it. "It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys."
Rest of the article at:
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/03/start-up-epicenter-implants-employees-with-microchips.html
The article says the chip doesn't differ much from credit card as it's based on the same NFC technology. In fact, this is the correct comparison as the chip is a passive device which "wakes up" upon the contact with chip reader. It cannot collect data, so we can treat this chip more like a key or access card. But imo it doesn't make this any safer. All data is stored and processed in data centres, they can be used in any way the company wants. It can be hacked, stolen, destroyed. Imagine the chaos when the responsible servers go down and employees cannot access anything in their office.
But what's more worrying is that people agree to just sell their privacy in the name of progress. I have an ID badge in my job which registers all my passing through the gates, so I'm familiar with the idea but the thing is I can put it away while I'm working or after my working hours. You cannot put away the chip.
Now you can use the chip to register your arrival in office and taking breaks, to buy drinks more conveniently. What's next? Getting your car started or taking the public transport ticket? Making all payments? Apart of whole "Mark of the Beast" thing (not that I don't believe it) I find it very risky. Just imagine everything you do stored as big data with some ID available for all companies that wish to use it (not that you even have a choice to not disclose your data to third parties lol, you agreed the licence terms). That all in the name of convenience, like spending 10 additional seconds of time is such a pain.
What's your opinion on this matter?
The syringe slides in between the thumb and index finger. Then, with a click, a microchip is injected in the employee's hand. Another "cyborg" is created.
What could pass for a dystopian vision of the workplace is almost routine at the Swedish startup hub Epicenter. The company offers to implant its workers and startup members with microchips the size of grains of rice that function as swipe cards: to open doors, operate printers, or buy smoothies with a wave of the hand.
The injections have become so popular that workers at Epicenter hold parties for those willing to get implanted.
"The biggest benefit I think is convenience," said Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter. As a demonstration, he unlocks a door by merely waving near it. "It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys."
Rest of the article at:
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/03/start-up-epicenter-implants-employees-with-microchips.html
The article says the chip doesn't differ much from credit card as it's based on the same NFC technology. In fact, this is the correct comparison as the chip is a passive device which "wakes up" upon the contact with chip reader. It cannot collect data, so we can treat this chip more like a key or access card. But imo it doesn't make this any safer. All data is stored and processed in data centres, they can be used in any way the company wants. It can be hacked, stolen, destroyed. Imagine the chaos when the responsible servers go down and employees cannot access anything in their office.
But what's more worrying is that people agree to just sell their privacy in the name of progress. I have an ID badge in my job which registers all my passing through the gates, so I'm familiar with the idea but the thing is I can put it away while I'm working or after my working hours. You cannot put away the chip.
Now you can use the chip to register your arrival in office and taking breaks, to buy drinks more conveniently. What's next? Getting your car started or taking the public transport ticket? Making all payments? Apart of whole "Mark of the Beast" thing (not that I don't believe it) I find it very risky. Just imagine everything you do stored as big data with some ID available for all companies that wish to use it (not that you even have a choice to not disclose your data to third parties lol, you agreed the licence terms). That all in the name of convenience, like spending 10 additional seconds of time is such a pain.
What's your opinion on this matter?