PC Magazine Calls For All, Both Small And Great To Receive Microchip
Implant*

Lance Ulanoff

It's high time we embraced RFID technology in all its permutations, even
personal implants.

by Lance Ulanoff

I'm surprised by both the debate over RFID (radio frequency
identification) and the technology's growing capabilities. RFID has been
a boon to corporations with large retail outlets, inventory rooms,
warehouses, and more. It's even beginning to bleed into public spaces
such as county beaches. Yet it seems all I hear is moaning about the
privacy and First Amendment implications. This is growing tiresome, and
it's time to set people straight.

RFID chips are a good idea. RFID chips that can help locate people and
objects are a better idea. RFID chips implanted in pets and people are
the best idea of all. Let me illustrate how committed I am to this idea.

I have two children, a boy and a girl. When my son was born 12 years
ago, the obstetrician asked within hours of his birth if I wanted to
have him circumcised. This is a common practice for boys, so I didn't
hesitate to say yes. Of course, it is a medical procedure, and in
hindsight, I wish I'd thought about it for more than 35 seconds.

Now imagine a world where the doctor had, instead, asked me if I wanted
my son "chipped." Here's how that conversation might have gone:

Doctor: "Mr. Ulanoff, it's a simple and virtually painless procedure."

Me: "You mean there's no cutting? No blood?"

Doctor: "Well, no. There is cutting and blood, but it's a small incision
and there's very little blood."

Me: "Sounds like it'll hurt my son."

Doctor: "We use a local anesthetic, and the RFID implant will mean your
child can be readily identified in the hospital."

Me: "What? Wait. Why would he need it here in the hospital? Are you
telling me that babies have been stolen from here?"

Doctor: "Ahem. Er, no. But in the extremely unlikely event that your son
is, uh, snatched, he would never make it through the hospital doors
because his chip would be synced with your wrist bracelet. If your child
left the building without you and your bracelet, which also has RFID, an
alarm would sound."

Me: "Um, well, 'chipping' him seems kind of extreme for tracking him
while he's in the hospital. I mean, he's only here a day and a half."

Doctor: "True, Mr. Ulanoff, but your son will benefit from the chip
after he leaves the hospital, as will you and your wife. This RFID chip
has GPS, a unique identifier, and near-field communication. There's even
talk of adding credit card info when he turns 21, so he can shop by
waving his arm over the check-out counter."