Hi Everyone,
After our discussion about RFID chips tracking commodities, I was fixated on the idea of the same technology being utilized to track humans. As mentioned in our reading, the FDA has approved VeriChip's implantable RFID chips for humans, and the chips have already been used for security purposes in business practice, and also as a means of charging patrons conveniently in Spain. This makes me think about a quote from one of the videos we watched about how changes occur whether or not "we" as a whole approve them or not. The idea of tracking devices implanted under our flesh generates much debate over privacy, power, and freedom. I think it also problematizes the globalization of commerce, especially as we are becoming something close to commodities ourselves.
This topic is particularly interesting to me because of my background in Gender Studies, which as a field, examines the interrelationship between the physical body and society, including how they inform and influence each other. In general, I'm interested in exploring how the body is both enhanced and threatened by innovations in technology and also how human connection has been simultaneously facilitated and disintegrated in the new digital world we inhabit.
As far as RFID chips, I found some interesting bits on the topic in case anyone would like to investigate further. There are a lot of paranoid conspiracy theory pieces that relate the chips to the Biblical "mark of the best." I included some nice little video flights of fancy for kicks and giggles.
Articles:
FDA approves implanted RFID chip for humans
Americans starting to implant RFID chips in humans
Videos:
Ad for implanted RFID chip
This topic is particularly interesting to me because of my background in Gender Studies, which as a field, examines the interrelationship between the physical body and society, including how they inform and influence each other. In general, I'm interested in exploring how the body is both enhanced and threatened by innovations in technology and also how human connection has been simultaneously facilitated and disintegrated in the new digital world we inhabit.
As far as RFID chips, I found some interesting bits on the topic in case anyone would like to investigate further. There are a lot of paranoid conspiracy theory pieces that relate the chips to the Biblical "mark of the best." I included some nice little video flights of fancy for kicks and giggles.
Articles:
FDA approves implanted RFID chip for humans
Americans starting to implant RFID chips in humans
Videos:
Ad for implanted RFID chip
Zeitgeist Movie - RFID Chip
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