01The beginning
The idea of integrated cybernetics
I had always been drawn to ideas like holo-eyes, Star Wars cybernetics, and technology that could become part of a person instead of remaining an external tool.
All projects
Becoming my own interface.
The story of turning an abstract fascination with cybernetics into a small, real, limited interface carried in my left hand.
I have been fascinated by the idea of technology becoming part of the body for years. What started with science-fiction images of cybernetics eventually became a practical question: would I actually choose to put a working device in my hand? I did. The result is a Dangerous Things NExT v2 implant in my left hand.
Inside the 3.1 x 15 mm bioglass capsule are two radio systems: a 13.56 MHz NTAG I2C NFC chip and a 125 kHz T5577 RFID chip. It also contains a small LED that lights up when a compatible reader powers it. That sounds futuristic, but the useful part is more limited: it only does anything when the surrounding hardware and system support it.
This is the story of how I arrived at the decision, what the appointment was like, how people reacted, and where the implant is genuinely useful. It is my experience, not medical advice or an implantation guide.
The chip replaces
Car key
For a compatible vehicle access system.
Office access key
For compatible NFC or RFID readers.
Business card
A programmable identity and contact touchpoint.
Conversation starter
The implant itself often starts the conversation.
Password folder
For workflows built around encrypted credentials.
the timeline
02First reaction
The idea stopped being science fiction
Stories about people using implanted chips to open doors and experiment with payment systems made the concept feel real. My first reaction was that it sounded creepy, so I moved on before returning to the idea later.
03Research
Finding Dangerous Things
When I discovered Dangerous Things, the website initially looked unusual enough that I left the idea alone overnight. The next morning I researched the NFC and RFID spectrum, the existing niche community, and the practical limits of the technology. I also joined r/dangerousthings to see how people were actually using these devices.
04The turning point
The LED changed the decision
The NExT v2 made the idea more tangible: it combines an NFC chip, a low-frequency RFID chip, and a power-harvesting LED that can respond when the implant is energized by a compatible reader. I started imagining a business card, a compatible access credential, and a programmable interface carried on my person, while keeping the limitations of each use case in mind.
05Planning
Planning before committing
I made a spreadsheet to understand the cost and looked for a reliable implanter. At the time, I could not find a suitable studio in Zurich, and the closest option that would accept me was in Bern. I was also 17, while the studio required clients to be at least 18.
06Before my birthday
Waiting until 18
I tested the idea in conversations with my parents and quickly learned that they did not find it appealing. In the weeks before my birthday I contacted El Mundo Piercing Studio in Bern and bought the chip. Seeing the injector in person made me question the plan, but I decided to continue.
07The appointment
Getting the implant
A few days after turning 18, I went to El Mundo in Bern. The team explained the process, used local anaesthetic, and talked me through the aftercare. The procedure itself was sharp and intense but very quick. A studio videographer also asked whether the procedure could be recorded; that material will only be linked here if the final permission and source are confirmed.
08Afterward
Returning to Zurich
After receiving the aftercare instructions, I left the studio and returned to Zurich by a direct Bern-Zurich train service. I am intentionally not naming a specific service because the exact timetable and service number depend on the day.
09Reactions
What people thought
The strongest disapproval came from close family and my girlfriend at the time. Most other reactions were surprise, fascination, and questions about how an implanted interface could work. To my knowledge, at least four people later decided to get implants themselves after hearing about mine.
10Practical reality
What it is actually useful for
The implant is most useful in situations that already support the relevant NFC or RFID technology: storing small amounts of compatible data, presenting an access credential, or triggering a reader-based workflow. It is not a universal payment card, and it requires compatible readers, programming tools, and a realistic understanding of the security model.
11Reflection
The final verdict
As a conversation starter, the implant is remarkably effective. As a practical tool, it works best when a specific use case already exists. I do not expect mass adoption in its current form, but higher-security capabilities or more integrated designs could make this kind of interface more compelling in the future.
The hardware
What's in the chip?
The NExT v2 is interesting because it is specific. Its value depends on the reader, credential, and security model around it.
Signal board
NExT v2NFC13.56 MHzNTAG I2C Type 2
RFID125 kHzT5577 low-frequency
Memory888 bytesWritable NFC user space
Capsule3.1 x 15 mmBioglass implant