Imagine a time when people won’t need keys to open the doors to their homes. Instead, with a wave of their hand across the door lock, they could be let inside.
This might sound like technology of a very distant future, but it’s happening now, and an Australian researcher is looking into the how and why.
Kayla Heffernan, from the department of computing and information systems at the University of Melbourne, is currently carrying out research looking at the user experience of insertable devices – any device that goes into or underneath the skin. This includes microchips that are placed under the skin, such as in the hand or on the arm.
Heffernan is looking at several facets of the user experience in Australia and overseas, such as what people are using the devices for, why they are using them, the devices’ userbility and whether they will become widespread.
“A lot of my participants use it to open their front door instead of having to carry keys or to open their offices. A couple of them have even modified their cars and motorbikes so they can start it with their hand, so they can never forget their keys,” she said.
People are also using them with electronic devices, such as their computer, smartphones and even photocopiers – one person scans his hand across the photocopier at work instead of having to use a security pass.
While it might seem like a drastic measure just for the sake of convenience, all technology needs to start somewhere.
“You need these people to experiment to see what you can and can’t do with the technology,” she said.
“Having said that, it’s about as invasive as a piercing, so it’s not as much effort as people think it is to get it. If you get a piercing to never have to remember your keys again, that might become worth it for some people, and for these people it is.”
Two types of chips are being used for insertable devices – near field communication (NFC) and radio-frequency identification (RFID). Both can store information similar to a security pass, such as an ID number.
Inserting the chip under the skin is done with a hypodermic needle, similar to syringes used to put microchips in dogs and cats. Some websites even sell kits with a pre-loaded syringe with an RFID chip.
Heffernan’s research initially looked at the Australian experience, but she had to cast her net further afield after a shortage of participants in the country. She now has over 30 respondents from across the world.
While she estimates it’s hard to know exactly how many people are using insertable devices, Heffernan said as more people start to use them, the security will need to improve and further ethical questions will arise.
“Some people say ‘Why don’t we microchip sex offenders and prisoners?’ Obviously that’s a huge ethical concern. The first thing is that these chips can’t actually track you, so it would be pointless, but if the technology ever got there, ethically is that ok?” she asked.
The devices could also potentially be used on older people in the community, such as those suffering Alzheimer’s to stop them wandering off. This idea was floated in 2007 when a US company proposed a trial to insert chips into Alzheimer’s patients to help identify – but not track – them.
“I’m not for that at all. There are some homes and hospitals that have RFID wristbands that control their entry and exit (to places), and I think that’s fine, but patients can try and get them off. If it’s under their skin, they may try and cause harm to themselves,” Heffernan said.
“That’s a huge ethical concern that we’re thinking about in the back of our minds. With our first study, because we’re only looking at people who have chosen to do this, we haven’t come across any that we’ve had to face in reality.”
While the devices are only being used to store basic information at the moment, it could be feasible for the chips to one day have GPS capabilities, but Heffernan said it’s likely to be a very long way off, particularly given the size of the device.
Heffernan also pointed out that the people using insertable devices are the early adopters - people who are typically technologically savvy and aware of privacy concerns.
“It doesn’t seem to bother them at this stage because they’re all quite technical and they know that (they can’t be tracked by the government),” she said.
“Another thing is we already carry phones with us, which already have a tracking capability.”
While all of this might sound futuristic and pushing the boundaries, it’s still very early days.
“People are experimenting and trying to do what’s possible now, which is opening their door, but with a view to go further,” she said.
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