Professor Kevin Warwick

Professor Kevin Warwick based at the University of Reading has already experimented with biometric implants in his own body in August 1998. In a very simple experiment Warwick had a small transponder placed under the skin of his arm which communicated with the computer system at the university. The devise had the capabilities of tracking the exact location of the Professor, opening the doors of the building as he approached them, turning on his desktop computer and even playing a welcome message as he entered his office.



These are the type of everyday things that implants could be used for. The Professor goes on to say "I didn't feel like Big Brother was watching, probably because I benefited from the implant: The doors opened and lights came on, rather than doors closing and lights turning off," he says. "It does make me feel that Orwell was probably right about the Big Brother issue--we'll just go headlong into it; it won't be something we'll see as a being negative because there will be lots of positives in it for us."

These sort of issues are what a large number of people would be concerned about if the goverments started to introduce thses types of implants. althought the professor does raise an interesting point in saying that if it was marketed as a sort of convenience devise much like the ideas behind a car. removing the need to walk or run long distances and making our ability to travel alot further than before. the professor goes on to say about his relationship between him self and his implant "After a few days I started to feel quite a closeness to the computer, which was very strange, When you are linking your brain up like that, you change who you are. You do become a 'borg.' You are not just a human linked with technology; you are something different and your values and judgment will change."

This statement from the professor is very interesting and relevant to the way that implants can be used in a social way. the professor says that the implant started to change the way hes he thought and acted, if there was a way of view peoples public profiles which were stored on these implants would it change the way we interact with each other as humans. for example if you were sat in a bar and could find out the exact interest of everyone in that bar by reading it from their implants if no one there had the same interests as you would you still stay and talk to these people.

http://www.countdown.org/end/mark_of_the_beast_06.htm