How I became a cyborg and joined an underground medical movement.

Scott Goldsmith

That’s a tech implant in there.

I tried biohacking: the use of tech implants to augment biology

A man with metal horns protruding from his forehead and a split tongue poking out between his teeth advanced toward me with a scalpel. “I’ve never done this before,” he joked, inching closer.

A full-sleeve tattoo snaked out from beneath his black T-shirt, extending from a demon on his bicep to a skull on his fist. My eyes darted between skull and scalpel, then instinctively shut as I cringed, bracing for contact. Zack Watson, the inked-up body modification artist I’d hired — and drove seven hours from New York City to see — was about to sew a magnet under my skin.

The entire procedure took two minutes: Watson rubbed iodine on my right ring finger for sanitization, sliced open the soft pad of my fingertip, spread the edges of my skin apart with a curved hook and inserted a gold-plated, silicone-coated magnet the size of a pencil eraser inside with tweezers.

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He then wiped up the blood with gauze, tied my finger shut with two stitches, and told me how to take care of the wound in the weeks following to make sure my body didn’t reject the magnet as it healed.

Scott Goldsmith

Zack Watson sews a magnet into Jennifer Booton’s finger

Watson, who has several implants of his own, including silicone rectangles in his forearms that make his skin feel riblike, has been putting magnets and chips in people for three years at Ice 9 Studio, a tattoo and piercing parlor in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats (though he recently left to open his own shop). His efforts are part of an underground movement in which people get implants as commonly as others get tattoos.

Interest has been spreading, with Watson quickly working through his latest supply of magnets. One woman recently traveled to Ice 9 Studio from Australia for a radio-frequency identification chip she uses to store personal information. Watson’s business frequently comes through his connection to Grindhouse Wetware, a Pittsburgh-area startup of “biohackers” who aim to augment the human body with technology. If successful, they’ll be at the vanguard of a movement called transhumanism that experiments with how technology can give us new, almost-superhuman, abilities.

 

Is biohacking the next phase of human evolution?

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An underground community is experimenting with tech implants that could disrupt the healthcare industry by pushing the limits of the human body. But will regulation stop their devices from wide adoption?

Biohacking enthusiasts have tinkered with electronic tattoos and subdermal — underneath-the-skin — implants for two decades, sharing their efforts in videos on YouTube and internet forums to spread and encourage innovation. Proponents believe smart implants represent the future of wearable technology, potentially making humans healthier and more efficient while providing new opportunity to consumer-technology companies such as Apple Inc. AAPL, -0.01%  and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL, +0.43% GOOG, +0.20%  that are investing heavily in technology that could revolutionize health care.

“You’re talking about extending your body to its maximum potential — and then beyond,” said Grindhouse co-founder Tim Cannon.

Scott Goldsmith

Watson and his 6-month-old son, Thor, in Pittsburgh

Big tech companies see big opportunity

In the late 1990s, an Englishman named Kevin Warwick was among the first people to put an RFID chip under his skin, letting him turn lights on and off and interact with appliances by scanning the chip with computer-controlled devices. Today, many people — including Warwick — are pushing that concept even further.

Amal Graafstra, who has tinkered with biohacking for at least a decade, is developing a smart gun that would use an RFID chip to ensure that it only fires in the hands of its owner. French tattoo artist JC Sheitan Tenet, who lost his right arm as a child and had to relearn how to draw with his non-dominant left hand, was recently fitted with a working tattoo machine prosthetic so he could resume work with his dominant hand.

The Five Most Disruptive Technologies of 2015

New technology has dramatically impacted companies that were once considered industry leaders. It has also changed consumer behavior and altered the cost structures and processes of existing operations. Typically, the most powerful disruptive technologies change the way that information, capital, or products move.

Simply put, this form of innovation transforms existing products and practices into new paradigms.

For example, mobile telephones disrupted landline telephones, adding convenience to consumers’ daily lives and facilitating the growth of mobile networks and new forms of commerce and communication. Most importantly, over the years, mobile phones have become increasingly cheaper and more accessible to consumers.

This article examines the five most disruptive technologies of 2015 and explains how these new devices, products, and services stand to change the way we live and do business.

1. Health and Fitness – The Quantified Human Being

The wearable technology revolution is well underway. Tech giant Apple Inc.(APPL) made a splash this year when it launched the Apple Watch. The watch's apps are creating a wealth of possibilities for innovative minds in the health and fitness sector.

What was once considered science fiction or the accessories of secret agent James Bond, wearable technology has evolved into one of the fastest-growing business sectors of 2015. This year has produced a gold rush for technology entrepreneurs who create new applications that collect, report, and respond to data collected by wearable technologies from a consumer’s body. Wearable technology has the potential to disrupt payment systems, digital media and advertising, data collection in the health industry, communications, among other sectors. According to MarketsandMarkets, the industry will be worth $11.61 billion by 2020. (For more, read: Beyond Apple: Investing in Wearable Technology.)

2. Ride Sharing – On the Go with Uber

Uber has fast become a preferred mode of transportation in urban environments as an alternative to taxis and subway systems. In Chicago, the transition has been so dramatic, that the city aims to raise taxes on ride-sharing vehicles to offset anticipated losses from riders on public transportation and cabs. Meanwhile, Medallion Financial Corp. (TAXI), a financial company dedicated to loans and other services for taxi companies has seen its stock price decline as much as 50% this year as ride-sharing companies have started to erode the demand for taxis.

Today, Uber is considered the leader of the ride-sharing revolution, and it currently has a private valuation of roughly $51 billion. Investors are eager to see whether the company will file for an IPO in 2016, as the size of this new global industry continues to expand at a breakneck pace.(For more, read: Are You Ready for Uber's IPO? 2 Things to Consider)

3. Blockchain's Separation from Bitcoin

One of the hottest trends in technology is related to blockchain, the underlying technology that makes Bitcoin a successful alternative commodity for investors. Blockchain is the public ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions in the commodity’s history. It also records the addresses of the recipients, a standard that prevents double spending. Created on digital networks, the blockchain is constantly growing as new “blocks” are tallied to each new set of recordings. The blockchain maintains a complete, secure data set that prevents double spending of Bitcoins and expedites the processing and clearing of payments. (For more, see: What Does a Blockchain Record in a Bitcoin Exchange Transaction?)

Financial institutions, central banks, and stock exchanges are all developing blockchain solutions because of blockchain's security features and ease of use.(For more, read Blockchain Technology to Revolutionize Traditional Banking.)By separating from Bitcoin, blockchain has the potential to become one of the most disruptive technologies of the future in the payment processing arena. Through blockchain, all you need to exchange money is an internet connection. Due to its tamper-proof nature, security is sound and exchanges take place instantly. Companies and customers no longer need to wait days for payments to be processed.

4. Genomics: Extending Your Life

Genomics is a revolutionary study of the human genome, which is the broad set of DNA or genetic material found in every organism. This study allows doctors and engineers to provide a complete genetic blueprint of a human. The combination of supercomputers and deeper understand of the human body could potentially extend an individual's life by an additional six months to two years in 2025, according to McKinsey Consulting.

Through genomics, scientists can gather and analyze gene sequencing to determine potential threats to an individual patient or identify illnesses a patient are prone to; thereby extending an individual's life expectancy. Scientists anticipate they will be able to manipulate genes, potentially reverse aging, and “turn off” the dangerous genes that might lead to a chronic disease or even cancer. According to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. the global market for genomics is expected to reach $22.1 billion by 2020, growing at an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.3% from 2014 to 2020. (For more, read: Global Genomics Market Is Forecasted To Be Worth $22.1 Billion By 2020.)

5. The Internet of Things

In 2015, roughly 99% of physical objects and devices are disconnected from the “Internet of Things,” a global network of communication and sensors designed to share information across many devices. However, according to McKinsey Consulting, soon machine-to-machine, and machine-to-mobile communications will be the norm. Next-generation technologies will interconnect vehicles, alarm systems, temperature controls, watches, televisions, anything with an on-and-off switch. (For additional examples and how it works, read The Internet Of Things In 2015.)

The Internet of Things isn’t disruptive just because it's expanding communication among networks and devices. It's disruptive because it could connect a wealth of information to areas once annexed from the rest of the world. Globally, consumers will purchase 2 billion cell phones this year and approximately 75% of them will be smartphones. As prices decline, the vast majority of cell phones bought in 2018 will have internet capabilities. Accessible access to the internet via smartphones will have profound economic and geopolitical impacts around the world.

The Bottom Line

Disruptive innovation can alter the process and operations of century-old industries by displacing existing technologies through widespread adoption. The technology sector will continue to develop a wealth of innovations that improve the way information, capital, goods, and humans move and communicate around the world. Currently, the sports, healthcare, and banking industries (among others) are experiencing a significant amount of disruption, and as technology evolves, these industries will continue to be revolutionized.

Source: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/100515/five-most-disruptive-technologies-2015.asp

Beyond Apple: Investing In Wearable Technology

Wearable technology is rapidly on the rise, and in tandem with this increase is a flurry of investments in such projects. Investors have begun to quickly pour funds into wearable technology, with projects ranging from apps for Apple's( AAPL) new i-Watch to various other brands of smartwatches. (For related reading, see article: Get Ready For The Wearable Technology Revolution.)


Tag Heuer, the French luxury watchmaker, recently announced plans to launch its own smartwatch later this year. This venture came about through a partnership with Intel Corporation(INTC), and will be based on Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system. Designed to bring head-on competition to the Apple i-Watch, Tag Heuer's smartwatch will be offered in a model that will be sold at a base price of $350, but the line of watches will also feature an 18-karat gold luxury model with a price tag of $17,000.

While there have not been many details released to date regarding the actual functionality of the new Tag Heuer smartwatch, the fact that Tag Heuer has teamed up with Intel is notable. Intel has actually formed partnerships with a number of brands, including Fossil and Oakley -- clearly an indication that the company sees a future in wearable technology. 

Tag Heuer is not the only brand to venture into the wearables sector. Acorns, an investment app, has also recently announced closing a $23 million round of funding. Led by e.ventures and Greycroft Partners, this is not the first round of funding closed by Acorns, which had previously announced a $10.5 million round of funding. Currently, Acorns is on a dramatic upward trajectory and has stated that the new funding will be used to finance three projects, one of which is the launch of a wearable app. 

While Jawbone has experienced some setbacks when it comes to the wearables market, the firm has also recently announced the completion of a new round of funding to the tune of $300 million. The majority of that funding was obtained from BlackRock.

Clearly, the wearables technology sector is poised for takeoff. ABI Research indicates that the wearables market could reach annual shipment levels of as many as 485 million devices within the next three years. Most of that growth is attributed to the ease of compatibility of such devices with smartphones. 

WHY THE RAPID RISE IN WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY?

Previously, much of the wearable technology market was segregated into sectors such as healthcare and the military, but due to continuing advances in the various features of such technology, wearables have experienced a tremendous growth surge.

While Google Glass was one of the early leaders in the wearables market, errors made in analyzing that market led to poor performance. One of the most significant errors made by Google was its failure to understand price points and its targeting of the wrong demographics. While Google initially aimed its wearable product at everyday consumers, it has since made the shift toward targeting the business sector. This is largely due to the product's relatively high price, which has proven to be too steep for the consumer market. Reports indicate that mainstream consumers tend to resist paying more than $200 for a smartwatch, even if it features multiple functions. (See article: The Business Of Google.)

As technology has become increasingly miniaturized, wearable devices are now available in a broad spectrum of options ranging from watches to glasses, and wireless connectivity and reduced cost for sensors have made it possible for wearable technology to finally go mainstream.

With consumers becoming increasingly interested in trends such as fitness, healthcare, socialization, and messaging, wearable technology has begun to attract a booming level of interest from consumers. Consequently, more and more retailers and emerging startups are fighting for a stake in this rapidly evolving industry. 

While the wearable technology industry may have gotten off to somewhat of a rocky start with Google Glass, it is no longer possible for investors to ignore this rapidly growing technology sector. Having expanded far beyond the phase where the buzz surrounding this technology was classified as hype, wearables are now the latest must-have. Since the release of Apple's i-Watch, a flurry of other devices either have been released, or are slated for release.