A few years ago, my friend volunteered in the annual headcount of homeless people in the City of Vancouver. Afterwards, she commented how much resources were needed to conduct the survey each year because homeless people are transient by nature. I jokingly replied that maybe the provincial government should consider implanting a chip on each of the chronic social benefit recipients who do not have fixed addresses. My friend gave me a dirty look, and said that my suggestion would be opposed by the human rights advocates. Back in those days, only wildlife rescue teams would tag recovered animals before releasing them back to the wilderness.
Yesterday I came across a documentary exploring issues around RFID chip implants in humans. Apparently a number of bio-hackers already had RFID chips implanted on themselves and other related people. The RFID chip is approximately the size as a grain of rice. Usually the chips are implanted on the back of hands. Some wealthy individuals also had the chip implants for the sake of convenience or as a life-saving measure in case of medical emergency.
I could not see how this could become a fad in the near future. Most people value their privacy and security too much to even ponder trying this kind of technology out. Imagine upon entering a store, they are greeted by a synthesizer voice that tells them which of their favourite brands are on sale at the moment. They no longer would have to go through checkouts to pay for their purchases. Should they be checked into an Emergency Department of a hospital, the medical team would have their medical history in a few seconds by accessing their file identified by a 16-digit number transmitted by their implanted RFID chips.
The video then made a religious argument that believers would not let such chips be implanted in their body, quoting Revelation 13:16-17, King James Version Bible. 'In Christianity, some believe the implantation of chips may be the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast, said to be a requirement for buying and selling, and a key element of the Book of Revelation. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name".'
Coupled with GPS, RFID chips could be a money-saving measure to replace low-security prisons. Another concern is where the database should be stored. Like everything else in life, RFID chip implants have pros and cons. Perhaps it is too early to have an answer to the question, "Chip on hand?"
Yesterday I came across a documentary exploring issues around RFID chip implants in humans. Apparently a number of bio-hackers already had RFID chips implanted on themselves and other related people. The RFID chip is approximately the size as a grain of rice. Usually the chips are implanted on the back of hands. Some wealthy individuals also had the chip implants for the sake of convenience or as a life-saving measure in case of medical emergency.
I could not see how this could become a fad in the near future. Most people value their privacy and security too much to even ponder trying this kind of technology out. Imagine upon entering a store, they are greeted by a synthesizer voice that tells them which of their favourite brands are on sale at the moment. They no longer would have to go through checkouts to pay for their purchases. Should they be checked into an Emergency Department of a hospital, the medical team would have their medical history in a few seconds by accessing their file identified by a 16-digit number transmitted by their implanted RFID chips.
The video then made a religious argument that believers would not let such chips be implanted in their body, quoting Revelation 13:16-17, King James Version Bible. 'In Christianity, some believe the implantation of chips may be the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast, said to be a requirement for buying and selling, and a key element of the Book of Revelation. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name".'
Coupled with GPS, RFID chips could be a money-saving measure to replace low-security prisons. Another concern is where the database should be stored. Like everything else in life, RFID chip implants have pros and cons. Perhaps it is too early to have an answer to the question, "Chip on hand?"
No comments:
Post a Comment