Wisconsin company offers chip implant to employees

Wisconsin’s Three Square Market gives employees the option to get chip implanted that opens doors, pays for break room food, provides computer access, and more Convenient or the start of Big Brother watching? (Photo via Circa)

Passwords and keys have keep your information and important items secure, but considering how many we have to remember on a daily basis, it can be a hassle. Did you forget your work sign-in or left your keys at home? It’s a headache. But have you ever thought of resolving this problem with an implant? Sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but it’s something Wisconsin’s Three Square Market is currently giving their employees. This makes them the first company in the US to offer such implants.

The implant, which is optional to receive, is a rice-sized implant that takes care of authentication for just about everything in the office. Tasks like PC sign-ins, buying food in the break room, and unlocking the front door are all taken care of by the implant. So where is the implant placed? It’s inserted under the skin between your thumb and index finger. And apparently, it’s been FDA approved.

Convenient, yes, but it brings up plenty of questions with the biggest one being privacy and tracking issues. The company assures there’s no GPS tracking, and all your information is encrypted. And if you change your mind about the chip, it can be removed at any time. It may give you shudders, but the company’s employees seem pretty excited about it. So far, more than half of their 85 employees have agreed to get the chip implant. The company is evening holding a “party” when a company from Sweden, Biohax International, will come and install the chips, also known as radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders.

It sounds slightly creepy, but other companies may be picking up on the idea sooner than you think. Three Square Market has already heard from other firms in other business sectors that want to know how they can implement similar chips for their employees. But when you think about it, are we really that far off from chip implants? Many people’s fingerprints are on file to unlock their phones. There’s even a similar option for smart cars. And with apps like Apple Pay and Samsung Wallet, there’s no need to take out your credit card or cash at the store.

Fact is, we already offer up plenty of our information to our smart devices and daily apps. Is getting a chip implant any different? Either way, it’s still an unsettling thought. And there are still flaws the Wisconsin company has to take into consideration. Because the implant is the key for company resources and sensitive information, it’s easy for the employee to be held against their will until they grant access with the wave of their hand. Is this really our future?

Have a story tip? Message me at: cabe(at)element14(dot)com

http://twitter.com/Cabe_Atwell