I’ve Got You Under My Skin

As a means of storing and retrieving medical information, we’re still waiting for tiny RFID (radio frequency identification) implants to catch on. In the meantime, an RFID enthusiast found the geeky tech could be a vehicle for romance:

Jennifer Tomblin and Amal Graafstra have made the most modern declaration of their affection for each other, with implanted electronic chips that allow them unfettered access to each other’s lives.
It’s called Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID. Both have had a small electronic chip embedded under their skin that grants access to each other’s front doors and home computers.
The system works like a key-card. A simple swipe of the wrist across an electronic sensor, and they’re in. The couple sees the decision as a modern declaration of love that also happens to be functional…
Graafstra got interested in RFID several years ago, and began researching the possibilities. He works in remote server management, so it was a natural step to order his first chip, have it implanted by a cosmetic surgeon, then begin writing software to go along with it.
“I got interested in RFID, essentially, as a way to replace my keys,” Graafstra said.
The chip itself is just two millimeters by 12 millimetres, and can be inserted under the skin with an injection needle.
Graafstra’s interest has continued to grow, and he has now written several pieces of software to go along with the chip. That interest has developed into a book project called RFID Toys, which comes out later this month.
Graafstra’s work has made him somewhat of a pioneer in the field. Though another researcher working on a different project had a chip put in his forearm, Graafsta was the first to implant a chip in his hand, and the first to plan to teach others how to follow suit.
The chips are surprisingly inexpensive, not much more than a few U.S. dollars, and can easily be ordered online. The hardware ranges from $30 up, and software is still difficult to come by — Graafstra wrote all his own programs.

We hope the two-city couple stays together for a long time, if only to avoid messy break-up surgery.
More from Graafstra’s RFID site…