Have you ever misplaced a key card that is needed to enter work? Or maybe can’t find your rail pass? Or as an employer, can you truly track access and secure a facility in this age of technology? But, what are you willing to trade for that security and access?
Some companies and people are now taking the step of embedding access into bodies through technology. They insert a microchip under the skin; with an embedded chip, there is no risk of losing access passes, or of being robbed of an important access pass.
It might sound a little like fiction (think, ‘James Bond’), but it is now a reality for thousands of people in Sweden. The microchips are designed by the Swedish company Biohax to make life easier and more secure. Those in favor of the microchips say they are safe, but others raise concerns about privacy, health, and hacking.
The chips are the size of a grain of rice and cost an estimated $180 per chip. Using a syringe, the chips are placed into the skin between the thumb and forefinger and have the capability of transmitters. For example, the chip can enable users to open doors, start cars, contain critical medical data, transfer personal data, and more. In Sweden, the largest train company has started allowing commuters to replace tickets with the chips. There is also talk that the chips could be used to make payments in stores and restaurants.
What do you think? Want a chip under your skin?
Group Activities and Discussion Questions:
- Discuss the buying process for organizations. Who would influence the decision-making?
- Show the Biohax site: https://www.biohax.tech/
- Show video of the product: https://youtu.be/eX1KNlI40V8
- What are the characteristics of the target market for this product?
- For Biohax microchips, have students work on the actions taken in each of the five steps.
- Problem recognition?
- Information search?
- Evaluative criteria?
- Purchase decision?
- Post-purchase behavior?
- What are key considerations in each step?
- Debrief the exercise.
Source: Savage, M. (22 October 2018). Thousands of Swedes are inserting microchips under their skin. All Things Considered – National Public Radio
