I've had a small NFC + RFID chip implanted in my hand (between the thumb and index finger). I'm able to open my front door, unlock (not entirely, but it's part of the process) my laptop and my phone and I'm looking for other uses as well.<p>The idea of implanting something in myself was very off-putting to begin with. But after I could see the practical uses, discussed some of the ideas people had for usage it seemed like a pretty fun idea.<p>I received the xNTi from Dangerous Things which came pre-loaded in a syringe for implant. Under the observation of a professional I implanted myself, two months later there's no scar and I've mostly forgot about the chip except when I use it to open or unlock things (and I think, damn that's cool) or I pass on contact details to someone at bar via NFC who thinks I've just done a high-tech magic trick.<p>I can feel and slightly move the implant beneath the skin, it's a little weird to get used to, remembering "oh yeah that's the chip I implanted into my hand".<p>I'd not recommend anyone performing surgery on themselves, however I'm pretty familiar with some basic surgery on myself in various places of my body (that sounds odd, but I've been in very odd situations) and I did my research beforehand on the implant, as well as had a registered professional to oversee the "DIY surgery" (really just made sure I sterilised properly and didn't somehow sever an artery).<p>It's also safe for an MRI (which would have been the stopping point for me).
There have been similar pieces by The Verge in the past ([1] and [2]).<p>People talk about the added perception that having an embedded magnet gives them, but honestly while my hearing/sight isn't great I've been able to sometimes get rather similar perceptions just through regular living. I think one use case I've read about was walking on the street and feeling a subway train below the ground. I've walked on a street before and felt the vibration of the grinding tracks, heard the scratch and screech of hard wheels on rail, and seen sparks or electric bolts when subway cars (at least Muni in SF) temporarily lose power via their rooftop cables.<p>I've had those perceptions without any kind of body mods. Is the issue that people nowadays are too stubborn to ignore the senses they already have, or grow so tired and bored of them that they need to add a completely new one?<p>I'm not sure that it makes any real sense to have an implanted magnet in a finger.<p>But hey, whatever floats people's boats; if there exist some people who absolutely need to change their own perceptions then I suppose all the power to them for making that decision and being capable of enduring the stress and pain from the procedure.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/8/3177438/cyborg-america-biohackers-grinders-body-hackers" rel="nofollow">http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/8/3177438/cyborg-america-bioh...</a><p>[2] <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/31/5952647/cyborg-conversion-incomplete-my-life-with-finger-implants" rel="nofollow">http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/31/5952647/cyborg-conversion-...</a>
I feel like a good 80% of having a magnet implanted is 1) so you can tell people about your magnet implant or 2) to write article about a magnet implant.
You can get much of the same "sixth sense" by wearing a magnetic ring instead of an implant... No worries of rejection or infection, and you get to loan the "feeling" out when you talk about it.<p>Example: <a href="https://supermagnetman.com/collections/magnetic-wedding-rings" rel="nofollow">https://supermagnetman.com/collections/magnetic-wedding-ring...</a>
> <i>Implants are dangerous. They are not approved by any medical authority, and doctors refuse to perform implants because, unlike pacemakers or artificial hips, implanted electronics violate the Hippocratic Oath -- grinders implant magnets for the sake of augmentation and enhancement. They have no proven health benefits and could result in unnecessary harm.</i><p>That does not make much sense. Body piercing, circumcision, tattoo etc.. are similar, but permitted and very common.
Instead of surgery, I would probably go for something like a "compass belt" for an augmented sense. A compass belt is a belt ringed with little cellphone vibrators and a gps-based compass. Only the cellphone vibrator pointing north is activated at any given time. If I recall correctly, the huge downside is that, once you get used to having sensory north, not wearing the belt can be very disorienting.
I had this done and my girlfriend got one implanted the day I got mine removed. Her's is rejecting and should be removed too.<p>It was neat, but it sucks if you're physically active at all. It was always sensitive / sore to touch. To the point that if I was doing pushups I had to keep that finger off the ground. Overall, would not recommend.
Steve Haworth, who pioneered magnetic implants and a bunch of other awesome body modifications just recently launched his new venture, cyborg nest. Their first product is a tiny device that attaches to 2 surface piercings and vibrates whenever you face north. <a href="http://www.cyborgnest.net/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyborgnest.net/</a>
I have heard that in general this is not as interesting as it appears. It works but after a while you stop sensing it and scar tissue will grow around it. Though I did at one point consider this.<p>This person didn't even seem to get that far.
Will you be able to travel if you have implants? What happens when the scanners find something fishy? (Now I'm curious about medically approved implants as well)
It would be cool to do this with a compass. Would it be possible to make it such that one could feel the pin even though it's encapsulated inside the device?
How good is the timewise resolution of the feeling? Up to what frequencys can you feel?<p>Sounds like becoming half a conjoiner out of science fiction, to be honest.