microchip implants
© SJ RailSJ Rail, a Swedish rail operator, claims that up to 100 of its customers are embedding microchip implants into their hands to pay for their journey (pictured)
The days of having to remember to grab your travel card on your way out of the house could soon be a thing of the past.

SJ Rail, a Swedish rail operator, claims that up to 100 of its customers are embedding microchip implants into their hands to pay for their journey.

The creepy technology raises security and privacy issues, as the data generated could be used to track people.

SJ Rail is not offering to microchip people itself, and passengers wanting to use the service must already have the futuristic technology.

Mircrochip implants are not new in Sweden, and an estimated 20,000 people already have them, using the devices to swipe in and out of the office, and even pay for food.

Speaking to the Sun Online, Stephen Ray, press officer at SJ, said that the idea was put forward by a technology start-up in Stockholm called Epicenter, where many of the staff are already implanted with microchips.

While the scheme is currently only available in Sweden, the country's travel system uses the same Near Field Communication (NFC) as contactless bank cards, and London's oyster cards, suggesting it could be used further afield one day.
RFID CHIPS

The small implants use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the same as in contactless credit cards or mobile payments.

When activated by a reader a few centimetres (inches) away, a small amount of data flows between the two devices via electromagnetic waves.

The implants are 'passive,' meaning they contain information that other devices can read, but cannot read information themselves.
The futuristic project has not been without its hiccups, and has also generated concerns over passenger privacy.

One flaw in the system meant that rail staff would sometimes be shown a passenger's LinkedIn profile instead of their ticket information.

RFID implants
RFID implants (pictured) use Near Field Communication technology, the same as in contactless credit cards or mobile payments
But Mr Ray reassured that the problem was quickly resolved, saying:
'That's why we call it a trial.'
Peter Dahlqvist, Head of SJ Business Sales said: 'SJ is already one of Sweden's most digital companies, so this new project could be started up very quickly.
'The microchip ticket is a good example of how we are happy to try out new ideas alongside customers and help to force the pace of digital development.'
There are currently no plans to bring the scheme to the UK.

Swedish Firm Injects Its Employees With Microchips

Swedish firm Epicenter hit the headlines in April for offering RFID implants to its employees.

The Startup offers workers microchips the size of grains of rice that function as swipe cards, to open doors, operate printers, or buy smoothies with a wave of the hand.

The injections have become so popular that workers at Epicenter hold parties for those willing to get implanted.

But, experts say the ethical dilemmas will become bigger the more sophisticated the microchips become.

The technology in itself is not new. Such chips are used as virtual collar plates for pets.

Companies use them to track deliveries, but it's never been used to tag employees on a broad scale before.

Epicenter and a handful of other companies are the first to make chip implants broadly available.

And as with most new technologies, it raises security and privacy issues.

While biologically safe, the data generated by the chips can show how often an employee comes to work or what they buy.

Unlike company swipe cards or smartphones, which can generate the same data, a person cannot easily separate themselves from the chip.