In the bustling heart of Moscow, alongside cities like London, Hamburg, Bonn, and Munich, a peculiar trend has emerged. Citizens are now opting to implant chips beneath their skin, allowing them to seamlessly navigate public transportation systems. This futuristic leap was pioneered by Dr. Patrick Kramer, the renowned German bio-hacker and CEO of Digiwell, who implanted these tiny chips in 15 Russian citizens back in 2016. Despite its promise, however, this cutting-edge technology has encountered several hiccups, particularly for the trailblazers of this electronic movement in Russia.
Meet Sergey Sorokin, one of the earliest adopters of this technology. As a Moscow-based system administrator, he underwent the procedure back in 2012. For him, using these chips feels almost magical. “Ninety-nine percent of Muscovites would be astonished,†he shared. Another early adopter, engineer Vlad Zaitsev, had an NFC chip implanted in 2015. This near-field communication chip enables him to make payments and access secure office spaces simply by tapping his hand within a ten-centimeter radius. Even Yevgeny Chereshev, a member of the Kaspersky Lab team, carried such a chip for two years to study potential cyber threats.
The process itself is surprisingly straightforward. Most chips used in Russia are imported from either the U.S. or China. These tiny, rice-sized devices, along with sterile implantation kits, can be purchased online for approximately $100 (or around 666 yuan). Using a specialized perforator, the entire implantation takes mere seconds. Once implanted, the wearer can unlock doors, access websites, and even transfer data with a simple gesture. Manufacturers insist these chips pose no security risks, as they’re crafted from biocompatible materials that won’t be rejected by the human body. The ideal placement is typically between the thumb and index finger, as this area minimizes discomfort and avoids interference with bones and joints.
Yet, despite its sleek design and ease of use, the practical implementation of this technology faces numerous challenges. Some users opt for more advanced modifications, such as inserting biomagnets into their fingertips, antennas in their heads, or even seismic sensors in their chests. While NFC technology allows these devices to communicate with Android systems, compatibility with Apple’s iOS remains elusive. Furthermore, the current storage capacity of these subcutaneous chips is relatively limited, averaging just 512Kb. To transform these devices into viable payment tools, they’d need to integrate special antennas certified by major payment networks like Visa or MasterCard. However, this would significantly increase the chip’s size, making it impractical for subdermal implantation.
Real-world adoption remains sluggish. Only a handful of institutions in Russia currently support chip-based access, dampening the enthusiasm of those eager to embrace this futuristic lifestyle. Stanislav Kuproyanov, another “electronic man,†recounted his frustrations. “Office security departments are unlikely to approve such requests,†he explained. “When I mentioned having a chip in my hand while checking into a hotel, the staff looked at me as if I were a lunatic.â€
This story was originally published in the "Perspective Russia" special edition of the "Global Times" and was sourced from "Russian News." While the idea of embedding technology into our bodies holds immense potential, it seems we’ve still got a long way to go before it becomes mainstream.
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