A Wisconsin company is to become the first in the US to microchip employees.
A total of 50 out of 85 employees at Three Square Market have volunteered to have a tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip implanted into their hands.
The rice grain-sized $300 (£230) chip, implanted between the thumb and forefinger, will allow them to open doors, log in to computers and even purchase food.
Three Square Market is working with Swedish company, BioHax, to deliver the new technology, which they see as one day being simply another payment and identification method.
In a statement chief executive officer Todd Westby said: “We foresee the use of RFID technology to drive everything from making purchases in our office break room, opening doors, use of copy machines, logging into our office computers, unlocking phones, sharing business cards, storing medical/health information, and used as payment at other RFID terminals.
“It’s the next thing that’s inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it.”
He added: “Eventually, this technology will become standardised allowing you to use this as your passport, public transit, all purchasing opportunities.”
The technology is the same as that used to pay for items using mobile phones.
Image: 32M
