In a move that could be lifted straight from science fiction, workers at a Belgian marketing firm are being offered the chance to have microchips implanted in their bodies.

The chips contain personal information and provide access to the company’s IT systems and headquarters, replacing existing ID cards.

The controversial devices raise questions about personal security and safety, including whether they may allow the movements of people with implants to be tracked.

NewFusion, a marketing firm in Belgium, is offering the chip to its employees.

The radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about the same size as a grain of rice and store personal security information which can be transmitted over short distances to special receivers.

RFID chips can already be found in contactless cards, including bank cards and the Oyster system which is used by more than 10 million people to pay for public transport in London. They are also similar to the chips implanted in pets.

The ones used at NewFusion cost around 100 euros each and are inserted between the thumb and index finger.

A growing number of people and businesses are choosing to adopt the practice, known as biohacking.

Implant kits can be bought online, and include a sterile injector with a pre-loaded chip and gauze for wound care.

The chips can be used for a range of applications, from allowing access to properties to logging into computers or even starting motor vehicles.

It is believed there are 10,000 people across the world using the microchip technology inside their bodies.

NewFusion is not the first company to offer RFID implants to its staff.

In 2015, a Swedish company implanted microchips in its staff which allowed them to use the photocopier, open security doors and even pay for their lunch.

就像科幻故事中那样，比利时一家销售公司的员工将有机会在身体内植入芯片。

芯片中含有个人信息，与公司的IT系统和总部相连，可以替代现在的身份识别卡。

这个饱受争议的装置引发了人们对个人安全的担忧，包括是否会允许跟踪植入芯片的人们。

这家市场营销公司名为新融合，将为员工提供这种芯片。

这种射频识别芯片约一粒米大小，存储有个人安全信息，可以短距离传输给特定的接收器。

射频识别芯片已大量应用于非接触式卡片，比如银行卡和超过1000万伦敦人支付公交费用使用的“牡蛎卡”。这种芯片和给宠物植入的芯片也很相似。

新融合公司使用的这种芯片每个大约售价100欧元，植入在拇指和食指之间。

越来越多的人和企业选择采用这种被称为生物骇客的技术。

植入装备可以在网上购买，包括一个无菌注射器、预加载芯片和用于伤口护理的纱布。

芯片使用范围很广，比如进入建筑物、登录电脑、甚至发动汽车。

据称，全球有1万人使用了这种芯片植入技术。

新融合公司并不是首个给员工提供无线射频识别植入装置的公司。

2015年，瑞典一家公司为其员工植入芯片，员工可以用其使用复印机，打开安全门，甚至买午餐。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

   【微芯片】wēi xīnpiàn microchip a small piece of semiconductor material carrying many integrated circuits

    【纱布】shābù gauze a thin, loosely woven surgical dressing, usually made of cotton