Theater of the absurdOne in four Germans willing to have microchip under skin
A poll shows one in four Germans would be happy to have a microchip implanted in their body if they derived concrete benefits from it; 5 percent of people said they would be prepared to have an implant to make their shopping go more smoothly
Microchips can carry a wide range of information // Source: unseenhands.wordpress.com
Ordnung muss sein! A poll sowed that one in four Germans would be happy to have a microchip implanted in their body if they derived concrete benefits from it. AFP reports that the survey, by German IT industry lobby group BITKOM, was intended to show how the division between real life and the virtual world is increasingly coming down, one of the main themes of the CeBIT trade fair that kicks off today.
In all, 23 percent of around 1,000 respondents in the survey said they would be prepared to have a chip inserted under their skin “for certain benefits.” Around one in six (16 percent) said they would wear an implant to allow emergency services to rescue them more quickly in the event of a fire or accident. Five percent of people said they would be prepared to have an implant to make their shopping go more smoothly.
Seventy-two percent, however, said they would not “under any circumstances” allow electronics in their body.
The results appeared to surprise even the high-tech sector. “This is of course an extreme example of how far people can imagine networks going,” said BITKOM chief August-Wilhelm Scheer.
The CeBIT, the world’s biggest high-tech fair, opens its doors to the public on today, with Spain, the current EU president, this year’s guest of honor.
German chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke Monday in an official opening ceremony before touring the exhibition early Tuesday.
A total of 4,157 firms from 68 countries will unveil their latest gadgets, a decline of 3 percent on last year as many high-tech firms stay away amid strong competition from other events.
