One in four Germans wants microchip under skin: poll

March 1, 2010
The results appeared to surprise even the high-tech sector

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A poll sowed that one in four Germans would be happy to have a microchip implanted in their body if they derived concrete benefits from it.

It sounds like something from a sci-fi film, but one in four Germans would be happy to have a microchip implanted in their body if they derived concrete benefits from it, a poll Monday showed.

The survey, by German IT industry lobby group BITKOM, was intended to show how the division between real life and the is increasingly coming down, one of the main themes of the trade fair that kicks off Tuesday.

In all, 23 percent of around 1,000 respondents in the survey said they would be prepared to have a chip inserted under their skin "for certain benefits".

Around one in six (16 percent) said they would wear an implant to allow emergency services to rescue them more quickly in the event of a fire or accident.

And five percent of people said they would be prepared to have an implant to make their shopping go more smoothly.

But 72 percent said they would not "under any circumstances" allow electronics in their body.

The results appeared to surprise even the high-tech sector.

"This is of course an extreme example of how far people can imagine networks going," said BITKOM chief August-Wilhelm Scheer.

The CeBIT, the world's biggest high-tech fair, throws its doors open to the public on Tuesday, with Spain, the current EU president, this year's guest of honour.

German Chancellor and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero were due to speak later Monday in an official opening ceremony before touring the exhibition early Tuesday.

A total of 4,157 firms from 68 countries are to unveil their latest , a decline of three percent on last year as many high-tech firms stay away amid strong competition from other events.

(c) 2010 AFP

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robvoodoo
Mar 01, 2010

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Enter the augmented human! Sadly, even though there are many everyday uses (for example paying for things, communication, information storage/retrieval) for which such an implant could conceivably used they will almost certainly come with a disastrous effect on privacy - governments and big business will want the tracking data. Legislation would be the answer, but how many countries would actually sign up to, let alone follow, such legislation?
addidis
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
Im designing a "smart house" control system. Part of that system is RFID access, I don't mind the idea of being tagged because 99.999 % of my actions are completely legal. Think about the implications of doing this world wide , suicide bombing? We will have a log of who they met with, one bombing and the entire organization would fall. The key problem here, is the fact that technology is going to take some GIGANTIC leaps soon and it would be a bummer to have a 386 pc implanted in me when you have a quad core 64 bit system. Bluntly speaking we are not there yet in my humble opinion. I do want one for R&D purposes though. Oh yeah I am an American, German decent by like 2 or 3 generations. The only reason I would appose this currently is if I can hack these systems others can. It needs time to mature, as does our interwebs.
CyberRat
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
Never ever i will allow a chip implanted inside me, i'm not a pig.
Hungry4info2
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Never ever i will allow a chip implanted inside me, i'm not a pig.
"I'm not a pig" is a poor argument in support of your case. Pigs breathe and eat. Do you not breathe and eat?
Skeptic_Heretic
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: 4.3 / 5 (3)
addidis,

Who watches the watchmen?

Comming from another of German parentage, you, of all people, should know better.
addidis
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
You nailed it on the head. We would HAVE to be the watchmen. The current system of the rich or powerful governing the rest simply doesnt work. Thats what is good about democracy. The records taken would need to be as public as this post outlining my opinion is. The thing to fear is a small percentage of the population having access to such records while the masses have no access. As I said the ideals , methods, and hardware are not yet mature enough to promote this. But still I want one.

In essence I agree with you whole heartedly. But it has too much potential. Bank robberies ? Suicide bombing? School shoot ups? Just because we as a species are not ready for it yet , doesnt mean its not a good idea.
rincewind
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
To anyone considering a knee-jerk Luddite reaction to this (like CyberRat above), you may want to keep in mind that we have started this transition to cyborgs a long time ago, and no amount of kicking & screaming will break the trend...

Cases in point:
* structural implants are 100s of years old (stents, pins, rods, prosthesis, etc)
* pace makers for the heart, defibrillators
* neurological implants to monitor epilepsy
* pace markers for the brain, to alleviate pain & symptoms from diseases like Parkinsons
* cochlear ear implants / eye implants
* electronic spinal implants to provide structure & monitor pain
* dental implants
* cosmetic surgery
* 100s of other examples in current clinical testing

All of these modifications are subject to secondary problems like malicious tampering, security, etc. These issues merit attention but the benefits will continue to outweigh the risks (as they do in the above examples)
otto1923
Mar 01, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
Never ever i will allow a chip implanted inside me, i'm not a pig.
"I'm not a pig" is a poor argument in support of your case. Pigs breathe and eat. Do you not breathe and eat?
' 18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [b] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return."Ecc3 -seemed appropriate.

Also: "Are We Not Men? We Are Devo"
Germans would be happy to have a microchip implanted in their body
Als Ersatz fuer ihre Seelen.
Wkd_Angel
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
2nd try:"Digital Angel" ? Does this ring a bell? Last I checked this was not yet perfected for Humans.
It was DENIED.
If someone wants to lose WHO they are,personality,their love,oh wait...I mean feelings as a human? Get chipped. In a hurry to get out of this world? Get chipped.
People chip pets/animals. How many are told that the body rejects foreign objects? Causing Cancer? We aren't told.NONE. Don't ask don't tell huh?
I'm not a German,but it should be common sense,to not BE perfected/altered in any way,unless we decide to change ourselves. We are America,at least here,here,everywhere really, should be given a choice. Aren't we fighting for Freedom this very moment? Not us literally,but our Soldiers? YES. RFID hides already,in clothes,deliveries,and surprise! Whole thing is already in progress! Not under skin yet;it has NOT been approved.Want Cancer get chipped now. We are being both;protected and confined. Seems overnight we went from computer age to the robotic age...
Wkd_Angel
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
addidis,

Who watches the watchmen?

Comming from another of German parentage, you, of all people, should know better.

Pardon for this quote,but are you pigeon-holing people because of their Parentage? Lineage? Give me a break! Sounds like a comment Hitler would have made.In search of the *Perfect Race?* Well,they do say history repeats itself.
Wkd_Angel
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
To anyone considering a knee-jerk Luddite reaction to this (like CyberRat above), you may want to keep in mind that we have started this transition to cyborgs a long time ago, and no amount of kicking & screaming will break the trend...

Cases in point:
* structural implants are 100s of years old (stents, pins, rods, prosthesis, etc)
* pace makers for the heart, defibrillators
* neurological implants to monitor epilepsy
* pace markers for the brain, to alleviate pain & symptoms from diseases like Parkinsons
* cochlear ear implants / eye implants
* electronic spinal implants to provide structure & monitor pain
* dental implants
* cosmetic surgery
* 100s of other examples in current clinical testing

All of these modifications are subject to secondary problems like malicious tampering, security, etc. These issues merit attention but the benefits will continue to outweigh the risks (as they do in the above examples)

What a boring World.... Everyone perfect?
Wkd_Angel
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
FYI- Stents break and collapse. Dental Implants? They break. ANY cosmetic surgery needs follow-up appointments,Many MANY more examples...They are Experimental.
The grass is not greener on the other side,it's just robotic! Wake up before it's too late? 1 in 4? You didn't include age bracket.Oh,I have seen the videos on RFID. Anyone can find them on You Tube,if they look. Couples can now choose sex of the baby,even features...Is it just me? Or is that too boring? Takes the mystery out of things,the excitement...wait we'll be robots. No feelings. Again Wake Up! Hitler commited suicide;he wasn't "robotic" Hitler in search of the perfect race? He Knew HE WAS WRONG.He just Couldn't live with it. Just some things to think about... I'm not in any hurry to become emotionless...What is the Aim,and Meaning behind this? Live in a numb emotionless world? Btw,it is OK to feel.
antialias
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
I'd only implant something I design myself (i.e. a chip is unique in such a way that no one but me knows the specs and can therefore track it/abuse it)

And it definitely would need an off-switch.
CyberRat
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
Never ever i will allow a chip implanted inside me, i'm not a pig.
"I'm not a pig" is a poor argument in support of your case. Pigs breathe and eat. Do you not breathe and eat?


http://www.youtub...9wANDX2Y
Skeptic_Heretic
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Pardon for this quote,but are you pigeon-holing people because of their Parentage? Lineage? Give me a break! Sounds like a comment Hitler would have made.In search of the *Perfect Race?* Well,they do say history repeats itself.

Judging from your commentary you're one of the more ignorant people here. Not only have you completely missed the point, but you completely fail to recognize the lessons of history.

The Jews were "tagged" by the Germans. Suggesting we tag everyone is abhorrent within our culture and to me.
Mc3lnosher
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
"To anyone considering a knee-jerk Luddite reaction to this (like CyberRat above), you may want to keep in mind that we have started this transition to cyborgs a long time ago, and no amount of kicking & screaming will break the trend..."

Like Rincewind says, the future is coming whether you like it or not. You may be scared of implants today but in the future you will not be economically competitive unless you are enhanced. Almost everyone's values change when money is involved. Like it or not society will be become increasingly artificial.
addidis
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Was my response "to better their lives" to the guys german which roughly translated "to replace their souls" really worth moderating ? I dont believe in censoring things that don't warrant it and hence re-post it.

No one is pigeon holing any one, if you read skeptics comment , he is of German decent as well. He merely wished me to explain my views as he expected me to be abhorred by such an idea. I respect what he said , and was happy to explain. No need to react to his comment negatively.
dacarls
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
My great grandfather left Germany for a reason- to escape the Kaiser's war machine. I have watched too many WWI and WWII cinemas of Nazi and Soviet Russia horrors. There have been other horrible war machines including those of the USA to recommend implantable chips. Who will watch Big Brother?
rincewind
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
@Wkd_Angel

What is the Aim,and Meaning behind this? Live in a numb emotionless world? Btw,it is OK to feel.


You give technology too much credit if you think we'll get to high EQ utopia that soon :-) We have many centuries of struggling with our imperfections ahead of us.

The 'magic' element you refer to is just ignorance, but even so you're in luck - as Arthur Clarke once said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." The future is magical!
addidis
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet

The 'magic' element you refer to is just ignorance, but even so you're in luck - as Arthur Clarke once said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." The future is magical!


I love that quote. Kudos
zbarlici
Mar 02, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
well then one in four germans will have thir chip hacked'
KB6
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
It's not all that bad, as long as you control it and can have it removed at any time. As for the talk of "perfect people" through technology: Who will decide what you may or may not do with your own body and mind? Who will be the "owner" of your most intimate possessions, making those decisions for you? Is there a line that must not be crossed? If so, who gets to draw it, exactly where and for what reason? You may not want others to do as they wish with their own bodies and brains, but who are you to make that decision?

"Homo Sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us... Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." - Edward O. Wilson
JeffJohnson17
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
This gives a whole new meaning to "Your Papers Please"
One in four Germans? I think the survey is flawed! Or paid for by the company doing the chipping.
maxcypher
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
It won't be an 'electronic chip'; but rather some bio-mimetic, nano-tech that uses our own genetic (and epigenetic) structures to modify an already amazingly complex system.

In a way, I've always considered technology a sort of 'instantiating metaphor' for processes already inherent in the human experience. For example, our human ability to identify with family, nation, beliefs, etc., is instantiated and enhanced by today's world-wide, social networks.

Where you place the line between self and other determines what you consider to be private or public.
marjon
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Why bother with a chip?
It won't be long before 'Minority Report' type biometrics could be in full play.
RFID seems useful for tracking products and pets, but could be easily disabled with a strong magnet.
verkle
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: 1 / 5 (3)
This kind of tagging was prophesied in the Bible almost 2000 years ago. Nothing new. It will be used for world domination and control as prophesied. Interesting to see the blending of the spiritual and the technological.

KB6
Mar 07, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
@verkle
This kind of tagging was prophesied in the Bible almost 2000 years ago.


I think you're confusing computer chips with phylacteries.
ArtflDgr
Mar 08, 2010

Rank: not rated yet
three out of four dont..

the headline tells you all you need to know as to what the rest will be. the idea to be saying look how many, join more, and completely not focus on the VAST majority who do not want to be tagged the ways that cattle are tagged today
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