IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2016 - 77

Technology Opportunities
Current and developing external factors give humanimplantable devices a number of opportunities. The
emerging technology-obsessed generation spends their
disposable income on the latest technology trends,
often upgrading to the next generation of a device while
the previous is perfectly adequate for all their current
needs. Technology today is associated with identity, and
is as much a fashion statement as it is a functional commodity. This growth in individual expression through
technology and fashion is also reflected through an
increase in tattooing, piercings, and other body art.
Other contemporary social issues could be partially
addressed by this technology. Implanted personal computing removes the need to carry so many portable
gadgets, reducing the chance of street muggings. Likewise, embedded camera and sound recording technology would further support this, as sousveillence typically
reduces extortion [45]. Ubiquitous computing and sensing would be an effective way to reduce terrorist activities and perhaps reduce the impact of successful
attacks by aiding recovery and identification of missing
persons during disaster scenarios. The same is also
true for natural disasters, transport disasters, etc.
Additionally, the health benefits of having sensors
permanently monitoring your wellness as opposed to
the "snap-shot" health sample at a treatment room
would logically result in faster responses to developing
conditions and more accurate diagnosis for emergency
medical treatment. Medicinal requirements of individuals can be easily and rapidly checked. In societies both
obsessed with wellness and immersed in unhealthy lifestyles, a system that is non-invasive to daily living
would be warmly received. Furthermore, the opportunity to enjoy upgraded bodily senses (hearing, sight, etc.)
is a valued commodity, while the implantable systems
would offer genuine personalized experiences for entertainment, education, social networking, and travel.
Technologies such as cloud computing, big data,
5G+, smart cities, biocompatible materials, AI, energy
harvesting, etc., all converge to assist the successful
deployment and development of subcutaneous body
area networks, ensuring they are usable, useful, and
safe. Power considerations for future implanted devices
will be supported by emerging energy harvesting solutions; current examples include energy harvesting for
autonomous intraocular implants [46] and for heart care
devices [47]. Google's AI AlphaGo program highlights
the potential for devices and systems to become smarter. Observers of the "Go" competition commented that
moves made by the AlphaGo were unlike any a human
would ever make [25]; such machine learning and intelligence will take technology to the next level of complexity and automation [48]. This will facilitate smart
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embedded systems that can look after us, such as current implanted insulin pumps that monitor blood glucose levels and medicate accordingly [3].
Perhaps the most extreme example of how implantable technology could be embraced comes from the
small but growing Transhumanist movement (biohackers/grinders) who wish to enhance and repair their bodies indefinitely using advanced technology. These
groups see technology not simply as a solution to avoid
illness and aid wellness, but as a vehicle to upgrade
humans to superhuman semi-cyborg status [11]. Such
groups have held international conferences to share
their vision and have attracted the attention of such
organizations as California Institute of Technology and
Harvard University. Examples of extra-human capabilities include the power of echo-location (sonar) [49] and
the ability to sense electromagnetic fields [50]. While
many will view such aspirations as far-fetched scientific
fiction, the desire in the modern era to have technologyenhanced bodies is clear.
The above opportunities highlight the potentially large
long-term market to satisfy consumer demand, while the
increasing acceptance of tattoos/piercings and emerging
technologies such as flexible skin e-tattoos [51], stretchable electronics [52], and ink-printable skin antennas
[53], all fan the flames of this brave new world.

Technology Threats
With the many opportunities come many threats. In
fact, this embryonic technology suffers from more
threats than most. Even with the new wave of experimenters and hackers, society as a whole is still quite
conservative, which could lead to a lack of technology
adoption. A 2010 survey conducted on attendees
at a technology conference reported 23% of 1000
respondents would accept a subcutaneous chip for certain benefits, while 72% would refuse chip implantation

Implanted and wearable networks
may infringe upon the rights of others
in close proximity.

under any circumstances [54]. A 2010 trial conducted at
the Baja Beach Club (Barcelona, Spain) offered club
members RFID chip implants to make e-payments for
bar refreshments and gain access to VIP areas. Despite
the obvious benefits, the trial highlighted a nervous
reaction towards the technology [55].

IEEE TEchnology and SocIETy MagazInE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2016