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Work is really getting under some workers’ skin.

At the Epicenter complex in Stockholm, Sweden, office drones are becoming droids by inserting dog-style microchips to unlock doors, operate photo copiers or share contact info.

It’s the latest example of a trend that is also emerging in the medical profession.

“We call it augmented humanity,” said tech trends expert Faith Popcorn, author of “Dictionary of the Future.” “We foresee a future in which everyone will have an implanted chip that will benefit our personal lives as well.”

Designed by the Swedish Biohacking Group, the radio-wave-emitting chip is the size  of a grain of rice and similar to transmitters implanted into pets.

Epicenter’s 700 tenants can get the implant, done by a professional tattoo artist wielding a thick needle. A Stockholm tattoo parlor has even hosted chip-insertion parties for employees.

Swedish entrepreneur Hannes Sjoblad, who started the “biohacking” industry in his homeland, thinks it’s only a matter of time before people use chips to ride public transportation, pay for groceries and track fitness.

Popcorn thinks it will go even further.

“You’ll be able to download Mandarin into your embedded chip before your business meeting in Shanghai,” she said.

There are still some bugs in this new technology.

When the “Today” show tested the chip in Sweden on Thursday, reporter Keir Simmons’ chip didn’t work.

“Go back to your flying car,” host Matt Lauer teased him.

His joke might be apt. Some experts think subdermal implants will only ramp up our addiction to technology.

“We’ve already gotten too overwhelmed with technology and if it’s now a part of you, that’s going to make you more obsessed with it,” said Dr. Larry Rosen, a technology expert at California State University Dominguez Hills.

 

 

Source:  Dailynews