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Technology company Three Square Market has embedded microchips into its employees.
Based in Wisconsin, USA, Three Square Market specializes in vending machine software design. It recently gave its employees the option to get rid of their employee identification (ID) cards and passwords and replace them with microchip technology.
During a company event, a tattoo artist inserted a rice grain-sized microchip between the employees’ thumb and index finger. The device enables the employees to perform activities such as opening doors, accessing computers, and making payments with just a wave of the hand.
Three Square Market CEO Todd Westby emphasized the convenience of having chip implants and its multiple uses. Nevertheless, not all employees consented to the move.
Marketing executive Katie Langer passed up the chance to test out the technology. Although she knew that microchip implants have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2004, limited research on the implants’ long-term health effects held her back.
Aside from health concerns, technology analysts also believe that microchip implants can give away a huge amount of information when hacked. In addition, some individuals perceive the technology as a possible way of invading their privacy.
Although Three Square Market is the first company in the US to use microchips, some companies in Europe have already adopted the technology. Belgian marketing firm NewFusion and Swedish digital company Epicenter have been implanting microchips into their employees.
In addition to identification purposes, microchips are also being used as train tickets, replacing the traditional paper train ticket, in Sweden.