River Falls, Wis.-based Three Square Market, a company that sells technology for mini markets, is offering to implant microchips in its employees' hands.
The microchips allow employees to log into computers, open doors and make purchases in the company's break room, among other access services. The microchip uses Radio Frequency Identification technology and near-field communication — the same technology used in some credit cards and mobile payments — to identify electronically stored information.
The company says it will implant the chips, which are optional, underneath the skin in the hand, between the thumb and forefinger. To use the microchip, the employee would hold the chip up to a device reader, similar to a typical access card. The device, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 2004, does not have GPS or tracking capabilities.
"We foresee the use of RFID technology to drive everything from making purchases in our office break room market, 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," said 32M CEO Todd Westby.
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