Employees at a company in western Wisconsin will soon be the first in the U.S. to be able to pay for purchase items or log onto their computers using only their hand.
River falls based software design company, Three Square Market, is offering voluntary microchip implants to its employees.
The chip implant has radio-frequency identification technology and would be placed between the thumb and forefinger of its employees who volunteer to test out the new product.
CEO Todd Westby explained, “There’s a little fat there, and a needle is put in and it comes out of the needle. It’s basically the size of a piece of rice.”
The software design company says the chip would streamline purchases, as well as give employees easy access to the building and allow them to log into their computers simply using their hand.
“Having the chip implanted basically eliminates all the carrying around of the data,” added Westby.
At this point around 50 of the about 80 employees that work at three square market are planning on getting the chip.
However some employees, like account executive Julianna Weina, say they’re still doing their research before making a final decision
“It is something I’m strongly considering,” said Weina. “It’s just like anything that’s new, you always just wonder.”
The chip has been FDA approved since 2004 and cost $300 but since it is being offered to employees free of charge some are already fully on board.
Vice president of sales, Kurk Johnson said, “People have piercings all day long, this will be my first piercing.”
Employees who don’t want to use the chip will be given either a ring or a wristband.
For those planning on getting the implant, chips and salsa party will be hosted on August 1st where employees will be given a chance to take the future into their own hands.
RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WEAU)–
A River Falls company is offering its employees the chance to test out microchip implants as a futuristic way to purchase items, open doors, login to computers and more.
Three Square Market is a company in River Falls that designs software for break room vending machines. They are pioneering a futuristic way to pay for item– via a microchip implanted in your hand.
The company says it expects 50 employees will be voluntarily microchipped. The microchip, about the size of a rice granule, will be implanted into their hand, between their thumb and index finger.
A release from the company says along with purchasing market kiosk items, employees will be able to use the chip to get into the front door and log onto their computers.
Employees will be chipped at the 32M inaugural “chip party” hosted at their headquarters in River Falls, WI on August 1, 2017. Employees are not required to get the implant, and the company said GPS is not a feature in the microchip.