In every issue of Professional Engineering, we ask readers for their views on an issue of the day. Some of their answers feature in the printed magazine, but space constraints mean we cannot publish them all. So this is where you find every single one of them in their unexpurgated, unedited form
Professor Kevin Warwick, interviewed in the latest issue of PE, has had a microchip implanted in him with the aim not just of recording his details for health, ID and security purposes but also of enabling new forms of communication with computers, machines and other people’s brains. Would you be willing to be “chipped” in this way, and what benefits or drawbacks do you foresee?
There are many advantages to the authorities for people being chipped, i.e. monitoring the movements, health, expenditure and social activities, but this is a gross invasion of privacy. Does big brother really need to know these things!
Surely technology could be better used in developing waste free energy or pollution free fuel.
Steve Smith, Penistone, S Yorks
I would think that this is a long way off given the progress of a National ID card - however the benefits of being literally "on line" appear to be fabulous for instant data or text reference and communicating in a variety of ways - even completing your tax return before the 31st January!. On a cautionary note though an essential element is a secure barrier or firewall to prevent junk mail, marketing surveys and the ever present software viruses - did Monty Python predict this with their SPAM, SPAM, SPAM sketch.
Tony Glynn, St.Helens, Merseyside
This sounds like science fiction becoming science fact and appears a little too close to Big Brother (George Orwell not the Channel 4 version) for my liking. I have no intention of letting an inquisitive government (or anyone else for that matter) know exactly where I am at any time of the day or night!
Steven J Collinge, Hilton, Derby
This is one of those Big brother dilemmas!
If the positive aspects could be guaranteed then I think that people would accept the idea to a degree. I mean at least you would never forget to take it with you. But the reality could be much more sinister. Imagine being scanned by identity bandits harvesting your personal data while you happily walk down the high street? Or all those large corporations monitoring your movements as you frequent different establishments so they can send you personalised marketing information to enhance your life? And you would not be able to escape unless you wear a shielding body suit.
Laurence Wood, Scarborough, N. Yorks
I think on balance I would like to remain 100% analogue.
The space between my ears is one of the few truly private places I have left.
Tom Aspin, Hatton, Derbyshire
Definitely would not be willing to be “chipped” in this way. Is this not foretold in the bible? Revelation 13 vs16 & 17.
Steve Hodgkinson, Egham, Surrey
The chips will probably be obsolete within a couple of years of being implanted. I wouldn't fancy having an arm full of silicon after 40 years.
Simon Baker, West Bridgford, Nottingham
I find the thought of having my details in a microchip under my skin as abhorent. Control of the extent of information that is embedded on the chip is an issue for the individual and could have all manner of details that you would not want in the public domain.
As for communication with computers, machines and others this sounds like the realms of fantasy and I am quite happy with the old fashioned keyboard for machines and the spoken/written word.
Stephen Barber, Stockton-on-Tees
The start of the cyborg! It seems to me quite likely that the next stage of human evolution will involve technological enhancements of body parts. However, like most science fiction writers, I think this will eventually end in tears...if a fluid based vision cleaning system is still required!
Peter Smith, Poole, Dorset
I am fairly sure I would be willing to have this done, however given that we still struggle to get two computers talking (after decades that should have made it routine) I am doubtful that Prof Warwick is going to have that much luck communicating with other brains. Perhaps there is a missing angle to this and it could be combined with all the people chipping their pets for ID, time for Prof Warwick to become the real Dr DoLittle? Whilst technically interesting I doubt we are actually anywhere near being able to do brain to computer comms in reality, I can see how you could allow the PC to make you think you had been wacked with a large stick but going much further than this is doubtful. Forgetting the rather fanciful comms applications I can see advantages in security and health monitoring, in fact my company has already developed embedded systems for both animal and human applications where it is possible to remotely interrogate implanted (or ingested) sensors and this almost certainly an area with potential in the coming decade. If I had to choose what to develop next? - has to be an embedded bluetooth receiver linked in the same way as we can a cochlear implant. As long as you leave a metallic lump on the surface and a flashing LED or 2 you even have an almost guaranteed market - all those slightly odd people who like to walk around looking like a Borg.
Russell King, Huntingdon
Fine in principle but technology moves so fast that we would all need to visit the docshospital once a month for the latest upgrade. I’ll have a McChip!
Simon Collins, Avening, Glos
I would not mind having a little chip that saves me from queuing at passport control in airports these days...
Seriously, the idea of being 'cyborged' freaks me out a lot. I guess there are positive outlooks for those of diminished capabilities. I'd rather stay human for now, thanks...
Sylvain Jamais, Ely, Cambs
I can see the end result would be each of us having a daily update, by plugging into a terminal uploading all sorts of new data. We would all compete to stay one step ahead of each other, filling our heads with information beyond our wildest dreams, to execute our ever-growing workload.
Sorry, the only chips I want are those I smother with salt and vinegar.
Stephen Rees, Stockport
Advances in technology to enable people with disabilities have a higher quality of life are worthwhile, however having a chip that enables Big Brother to track me or to enable me to be even more of a couch potato, is not.
And with regards to being wired up to your partner, think of all the relationships that would end when the men realised how many women faked it.... (yes, I am female)
Sasha Gallagher, Walsall, West Midlands
I’d worry that shop checkouts might interact with the chip, adding to my bill. I’d like to think I’d be suitably expensive!
Tim Mitchell, Cheadle
I would be willing to be chipped in this way. It would potentially offer many efficiencies and could render passports, ID cards and credit cards obsolete. It would have to be trialled very thoroughly first though to ensure there were no flaws in the system.
Thomas Bailess, London
"Sorry darling, we cannot be seeing each other anymore... our chips are incompatible, come back when you have had the latest upgrade."
Sven Brehler, Wolverhampton
That’s all very well, but I bet you’d still have to produce you passport and driving licence to open a bank account.
Steve Broadfoot, Middlewich
I'd be happy to have a chip implanted recording details for health, ID and security - no need to remember all those PINs. But the idea of being able to communicate "brain to brain" so that someone could interrogate my thoughts, bypassing my conciousness, cannnot be contemplated. Once people can read each other's minds that spells the end of human civilisation as we know it!
Steve Pickering, Beeston, Nottingham
I hope Prof Warwick is Mac compatible and not PC, otherwise he will suffer lots of viruses!
The possibilities for health are terrific but I doubt governments will resist the temptation to use these chips for ID and "security" purposes. Hence, no thanks!
Steve Henderson, Birmingham
NO THANKS
I do not want to know too much about myself and I want others to know even less.
Valeria Riccardo, Didcot, Oxfordshire
I have a real big problem with the ethical side of putting really detailed personal information on a chip that could potentially be passed around the public domain and once it’s there it’s there forever. For example, this chip may contain health information that may stop you doing certain things, driving as an example or buying a house, because you can’t get insurance, because the health information provided on the chip suggests that you may be susceptible to a heart condition which may lead to a heart attack, but this may never happen, but what insurer would take the risk knowing this information, probably very few, and those that did, the insurance premium would probably be cost prohibitive. I see this as the biggest ethical question about taking the next steps with this type of information technology, the potential use and abuse of the information that we have put in the public domain, it brings a new literal meaning to wearing your heart on your sleeve!!
Victor Smyth, Halifax, West Yorkshire
No I wouldn't!
It's the thin end of the Big Brother wedge. Although the practical benefits are many and very interesting, in reality it would be only a matter of a very short time before the government and security services find ways to abuse the technology. In a week when 'Burke & Hare' have taken over government policy to harvest organs without your consent, who can trust them?
And what about criminals taking advantage of the system?!
Solomon Godsi, Hendon, London
No I would not! Benefits - few except for the unscrupulous - taking identity theft by reprogramming to new heights! and the government - keeping track on the innocent whilst missing the guilty who will work out how to avoid monitoring. Drawbacks: Officialdom failing to believe the individual when the chip says something different to what they are being told - "I am sorry Sir you died two years ago, the computer says so"
Tony Hutchings, Middlesbrough
I would not want anything added to me that could not be turned off and I would not want to have surgery every other year to replace failed or redundant hardware. This will only catch on if it is useful and skin deep or if we have a desperate need such as to control degenerative brain or heart disease.
Stuart Kirby, Allestree, Derby
If it could be developed such that it could enable you to: download your thoughts and produce a report without typing; perform millions of calculations simply by thinking; store and retrieve data you’re not normally bothered about remembering - then I may consider it. Just don’t stand next to a magnet!
Terry Murphy, Wargrave, Reading
Of course I can see the possibilities (including cashless payment each time you use a public convenience), but why ever would you willingly give anyone else the opportunity of tracking your movements 24 hours a day ?
Simon Hodgson, Salisbury
I would be very nervous of such an obtrusive device in my body. And I would find the thought of having even the slightest possibility of a villainous hacker on the other side of the globe monitoring my very private life quite abhorrent.
Stuart Megarry, Pershore
I would not like to be "chipped", however I wouldn't object to having some students "tagged" so that we knew where they were on campus.
Dr Stephen Prior, London
© PE Publishing, 30 January 2008
