Scientists have predicted that this is the year in which we will witness the beginning of human microchipping. This technology makes it possible, among other things, to instantly verify whether a person is who he says he is. An RFID (short-range radio frequency identification) implant can hold all the information we usually carry in our wallets. It can transmit our identity information as we walk through a security checkpoint, enable us to use public transport and make long lines at the supermarket checkout a thing of the past. The future of microchipping is exciting, with many interesting potential applications. Chips like the ones we now use in our pets could become commonplace in the next decade. Of course, there are a few downsides to the technology, ranging from the practical and realistic to the possibly more far-fetched and dystopian. But while some experts have their doubts about whether these chips are appropriate for use in humans, the fact that they could offer many advantages is indisputable.
The RFID chip has been around for a while
The RFID chip is basically a tiny two-way radio, roughly the size of a grain of rice, capable of containing various types of information. It is inserted under the skin and when scanned, the chip can provide information such as a person’s ID number linking to a database with more detailed information about the wearer. A close up of several RFID chips
The RFID chip is basically a tiny two-way radio, roughly the size of a grain of rice, capable of containing various types of information.
Advantages
The RFID chip can be a useful tool, especially when it comes to emergency situations where instant access to the right medical information can mean the difference between life and death. Here’s some other advantages:
1. You’ll never again have to worry about losing your wallet
We use RFID chips for many of our daily activities. They are in the cards we use to pay for things at the store, take public transport, gain access to buildings and borrow books from the library.
2. Even easier identification
Our passports, IDs and driver’s licenses already contain microchips and it would require minimal changes in infrastructures at train- and bus stations and airports to transition from scanning passports to scanning arms. You will be identified without having to do a thing – except walk past a reader.
3. Your medical history will always be easily accessible
An implanted RFID chip can be used to quickly gain access to your medical history: what antibiotics you’ve had in the past, what you’re allergic to, what medication you take and any other medical information that’s relevant in medical emergencies, especially when a patient is unconscious. These implants are particularly useful for people suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease or Alzheimer’s disease. The chip itself doesn’t contain the patient’s entire medical history, but rather a unique code or number that can be used to access the information from a database.
4. You’ll be able to automatically control many of your devices
Imagine being able to start your car automatically, opening your front door as you approach it, your favourite TV channel switching on as you sit down on your couch, or your thermostat making sure the temperature is just right when you come home from work.