A Wisconsin software company is offering to implant microchips into employees’ hands so they can effortlessly make purchases in the break room, open doors, log in to computers, use the copy machine and so forth.
My first reaction is “How lazy are these people?”I mean, opening a door with a key card takes, what, two seconds?
As for vending machines, is it really that much of a bother reaching into your pocket for a few coins or a bill?
The only advantage I see is if you only have one of those old, crumpled bills that the machine keeps spitting back at you. Maybe then a microchip in your hand would be useful. Then again, it might make buying that candy bar or soda so easy that you end up eating a lot of that stuff day in and day out, then you could get fat and die.
There are always tradeoffs.
The company expects 50 employees or so to volunteer for the chip. Personally, I wouldn’t trade my privacy for a few perceived conveniences.
The company, I’m sure, is telling employees they won’t use the chip to monitor them.
Then again, Hitler said he wasn’t going to invade Poland, and every kid on the planet swears he won’t ruin his appetite before dinner. So I can totally see a company control room where they track employees and what they’re doing: “Hmm, Heller’s been in the bathroom 8.7 minutes longer than the allotted time window for performing bathroom functions. He’s clearly either sleeping or playing Words with Friends on his phone. Alert the dogs!”
It could happen.
I would also hate someone knowing how often I screw up the copy machine at work (answer: a lot) or knowing whether I snuck out the back door a few minutes early on a warm, sunny day. (We don’t get many of those in Michigan – you gotta take advantage.)
I seldom think the slippery slope argument is a good or valid one. But I do think the second we allow ourselves to be implanted with a microchip for some supposedly innocuous reason, things are only going to go downhill from there.
Say you want to order a pizza. Do you really want a microchip warning sent to your brain saying, “Don’t eat that, have some nice kale instead”?
Or say I decide to binge watch “Game of Thrones” on Saturday instead of mowing the lawn. Do I really want the lovely yet formidable Marcia checking her “What’s Andy Up To?” app to see what I’m doing then sending me a text saying, “Get moving, buster”?
I most certainly do not. If it ever came to that, I’d dig the chip out of me with my teeth if necessary.
Microchips would also be the end of a teenager’s social life. Try parking with your sweetie when mom and dad can track your whereabouts and your heart rate from their smartphones.
The point here is we’ll miss privacy once it’s gone. We should protect it aggressively.
Call me paranoid, but the only chip I want implanted in me is a potato chip.
I can see that this could be really scary, however if you could have a medical chip implanted, it might be a lifesaver. For instance, if you have epilepsy and have a seizure, the chip could be scanned and treatment could be given quickly. The same goes for diabetes, a heart condition, etc. I wouldn’t suggest a chip for everyone, but just for those who should be wearing a medical alert bracelet, or those who actually want a chip.
Oh, heck no!! Nobody is going to microchip me either!
No, no, no. Big Brother is watching. And tracking. And recording. Feel the same way about the new “fingerprint” system for getting into the sports arenas. No, no, no.
Barely have privacy as it is.
Read a quote the other day..Stewart Brand he of the Whole Earth Catalog
” once a new technology rolls over you if you’re not the steamroller you’re part of the road”
It is not good if your boss or your government puts the chip into you. BUT! If anybody wants his or her own chip, and takes own control, and uses it for own purposes, that might work out okay.
For instance, unlocking your own front door, starting your own car, paying for your own groceries, logging into favorite Heller blog…
Am I wrong?
Doesn’t really matter wherever you go there is a camera on you. Lesson learned. Only pick your nose in your own home!! Since I retired and sit on my porch and watch cars go by you would be amazed at the nose pickers.
Hee-hee-hee! Agreed! Just try to find a private place to park and make out with a girlfriend, nowadays. Nearly impossible.
Had a chat with my Dr. a few weeks ago. Asked him about something I read in a study. (NOT on the internet.) He confirmed that studies show EVERYBODY (who has fingers that will reach) pick their nose. It is as much of the human condition as having to pee.
Such subcutaneous chips offer absolutely zero advantage over traditional data transfer means such as scan cards, keyfob RFID, etc. There is literally zero valid reason for one of these employees to accept the chips. I think we need to take a deeper look into this company and the owner to better understand the Big Brother motivation involved here.
They make the vending machine stuff is why
My company vending “cantina” uses scan cards. They work great and require no subcutaneous chips!
Do not worry about the government planting to plant a micro chip into you.
At least not yet. There is a very good chance that at some point in time that the federal government will pass a law compelling every one to have a chip.
They may use the excuse that Suzi says about having your medical history on the chip. No one will be exempt from the chip, except for members of CONgress, (and I mean both political parties) their staff and other elite persons to be determined later.
Hey! Wow! Do you notice? Both the humans and the trolls here on this blog agree that we do not want chips. Great! Let us build on this agreement. Please! I am sure we can agree on other issues.
It’s weird. I’m a bit frightened by it. And yet millions happily give up details that compromise their privacy on Facebook and elsewhere.