Sweden leading the way with microchipping humans: the wetware hackers and the transhumanists
Whether tech savvy or lazy, the population in Sweden is catching the microchip fever, ditching credit cards, key cards, and even rail cards, by having a microchip inserted into their body, just underneath the skin.
Roughly 3,500 Swedes have had microchips implanted in them as the fad appeals to both the “wetware hackers” and transhumanists.
Wetware hackers are citizen science hobby biologists who build laboratory equipment from household utensils. They conduct so called “frugal science,” where they find inexpensive solutions that will improve the living standards for people in developing countries. But they also do more playful experiments where plants are genetically modified to become fluorescent, or algae is used to make new types of beer.
These are the folks interested in ditching their wallet, enjoying the ease of using digital items with just a swipe of the hand. Check out the video clip below.
The other group is the transhumanists, who focus on enhancing and improving the human body, escaping biological boundaries and find ways for the humans to excel and compete with AI in the future.
Self-proclaimed biohacker Jowan Österlund is the founder of the Helsingborg-based start-up Biohax and touts the move. “The key thing is this is not online,” he says, quoting in one testimonial.
“My reason for being chipped, beyond geeky curiosity, is that I am semi-convinced it could one day have practical uses,” the writer notes, confessing that he has no care for Biblical warnings: “I am prepared to take that risk.”
Österlund’s interest started with the medical possibilities.
“Being chipped will allow paramedics and hospitals to identify you and get information about medical conditions even if you are unconscious,” he said. “To me, it’s amazing that if a runaway horse gets hit by a car in Sweden, the police can immediately scan its chip and know it’s Bessie and it belongs to Mr Andersson at such and such address, but a human without a wallet is unidentifiable.”