CANBY MAN SHOWS OFF RFID MICROCHIP IMPLANT

  

James Newman unlocking a door using a RFID chip implanted in his hand.

James Newman

CANBY, OR (KPTV) -

A Canby man says he can open his door – even unlock his cell phone – with just the swipe of a hand. It's because he has a microchip implanted in his hand. 

James Newman said he is embracing the future. Two years ago, after reading some tech articles, he was inspired and had a chip implanted in his hand. He believes radio frequency identification is the way of the future and he wants to stay on the cutting edge.

"It's a progression in technology and I wanted to be on the forefront of that," Newman told Fox 12. 

Radio frequency identification, or RFID, offers many features, but it is not a new technology. In fact, you may even use it without even realizing it, if you have a microchipped pet or key fob. 

Amal Graafstra, founder of Dangerous Things, supplies at-home tag kits on his company's website. 

"In a personal use context, your home, your door … there's no real privacy issue. No security issue,” said Graafstra. "There's really no risk. On the biological side, the infection risk … there's less risk there than in getting an ear piercing."

Newman is one of Dangerous Things’ customers.

"Went on the website, bought the little kit, it showed up at my door," he said. "It's a syringe that comes preloaded with the chip in it. And you pinch up your skin, and you inject and pull out, try to get it between the muscle tissue there."

Aside from benefits like keyless entry, Newman said there are some social perks to having a chip.

"I'm the only one that I know that has one, it's kind of unique," he said. "A lot of people say that's weird, no way. Then after they see me do it once or twice they say OK that's kind of cool."

But Newman knows not everyone is a fan of the technology. 

"When it comes to the Mark of the Beast type of thing, that seems to me a literal interpretation of biblical text and if you really read it, it says it's on the right hand or the forehead," he said. "Mine's on my left."

Newman said for now, he is taking his chances, and has no plans to remove his chip. 

"I figured worst-case scenario I could take a scalpel to it and cut it out," he said. 

On the Dangerous Things website, there is a full disclosure warning posted explaining that the products have not been approved by the FDA. But the company's founder says that is by choice, because they do not want their products to be classified as medical devices. 

http://www.kptv.com/story/31309971/canby-man-shows-off-rfid-microchip-implant