Wisconsin company implants employees with microchip

Employees of a Wisconsin technology company reported feeling only a brief sting yesterday when they received a microchip implant in their hand. The chip will allow them to open doors, log onto computers or buy breakroom snacks by simply waving their hand.

According to the company, Three Square Market, also known as 32M, 41 of its 85 employees agreed to be voluntarily microchipped during a "chip party" at company headquarters in River Falls.

Melissa Timmins, vice president of sales at 32M, said, though she was initially apprehensive she decided to give the chip a chance, Associated Press reported.

"I planned for the worst and it wasn't bad at all," said Timmins, who received a microchip in her left hand on Monday. "Just a little prick."

According to company leaders, this was the first US appearance of technology already available in Europe The chips are about the size of grain of rice (See: Workers at Wisconsin company to get microchips).

According to officials, the data in the microchip is encrypted and as it does not use GPS, it cannot be used to track employees or obtain private information.

According to professor Jeremy Hajek of the Illinois Institute of Technology, microchipping started years ago with veterinarians implanting the device in pets that might get lost.

The company designs software for ''micromarket'' vending machines for break rooms in office buildings around the country and employs 85 people.

"Eventually, this technology will become standardized, allowing you to use this as your passport, public transit, all purchasing opportunities, etc.," CEO Todd Westby said in a statement.

The RFID chimp implant will allow employees to "make purchases in the break room... open doors, login to computers, use the copy machine, etc."

''The international market place is wide-open and we believe that the future trajectory of total market share is going to be driven by who captures this arena first,'' 32M COO Patrick McMullan said, Scripps Media Inc reported.