The world's youngest 'cyborg'
A 15 year-old boy claims to be the world’s youngest ‘cyborg’ after implanting a microchip into his hand. Byron Wake, of Martock, Somerset, used a hypodermic needle to implant the device. The transponder, which is the size of a grain of rice, works by using NFC which emits a low power radio-frequency signature that triggers pre-programmed events. Since implanting the microchip, Wake has used it to unlock his phone and control its Bluetooth function.
Wake ordered the microchip and needle online as part of a kit. However, the manufacturer, Dangerous Things, warns users that its xNT transponder device has not been tested or certified by any regulatory agency for implantation inside the human body. Despite the futuristic references attached to this practice, it is becoming more common place, with more than 10,000 people across the world believed to be using microchip technology inside their bodies.
In partnership with the Swedish Biohacking Group, Epicenter implanted microchips into the building’s employees, allowing them to open doors and operate equipment such as photocopiers with the touch of a hand. The logic behind this was to make interaction with technology more intuitive. While some may find this gimmicky, the Swedish Biohacking Group has argued that such experiments allow us to prepare for a day when others want to chip us.
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