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.”
I think I’ll stick with the inconvenience of communications devices, credit cards and keys if it avoids being microchipped. That people volunteer for this stuff merely confirms my worst thoughts about my fellow mankind. There are no limits to the depths of people’s utter, utter stupidity.
“The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone,” he says. “Conceptually you could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often you’re working, how long you’re working, if you’re taking toilet breaks and things like that.”
And these morons think this is a good thing. Jesus!
What happens when some enterprising soul hacks the technology? Poof! Instant unperson.
This could be fun. For those watching, possibly. For those affected, definitely not.
“What happens when some enterprising soul hacks the technology?”
That would be me then. No really, I’m paid by the hour and I do 14 hours a day. Check your records.
But it won’t just be “enterprising souls” gaming the system. My biggest concern is it goes from surprise parties, to shaming for not having one, to mandatory.
How long till they ‘discover’ the results are clearer, for your own good you know, if we implant that slightly bigger and now communicable chip just inside your head.
My good wife has been predicting them fitting chips into the heads of ‘worker class’ babies in a few short generations, how fortunate the sheep are volunteering for the early versions.
Remember if you do nothing wrong citizen you have nothing to fear.
Signed
The State.
A microchip will open doors? Can’t possibly see a criminal kidnapping a worker, chopping off their hand and later waving it in front of a door they want opened.
I am sure that our future masters have thought of this unlikely event.
Surely not? I mean ISIS cut off. . . . . Oh hang a minute
I recall a report about a Malaysian man having his Mercedes stolen. It had a fingerprint reader to activate the entry and electronics systems. The thieves merely cut his finger off and away they went …
THIS blog has a recent series of threads about Internet Security and how the security is essentially non existent. Want to bet that this system will be bypassed easily?
They should insert them into as many criminals as possible, so that when they’re suspected of doing a ‘job’, the chip would immediately tell the police where they were at the time. No doubt the human rights do gooders would jump on that idea though.
It’s only a handful* of idiots at this particular start-up who’ve got themselves chipped. I doubt it’ll get mass approval, even with the celebratory parties.
* that was unintentional, honestly!
This is Sweden -run by feminists – a country that wants to be so diverse that it will be unrecognizable.
Dear Mr Longrider
I trust it was inserted into their right hand:
DP