The primary use of these microchip implants is for the identification of domestic companion animals. If an animal is found and cannot be identified by visual means, a veterinarian or animal shelter can scan the chip with a reader device and immediately identify the animal via the pre-encoded data contained on the chip. It has become common practice for veterinarians to implant the microchips, usually under the skin at the back of the animal's neck, at a reasonable cost to the owner. Breeders routinely have chips implanted in the animals they sell, as do shelters when animals are adopted. Microchip implants have significantly improved the control of domestic animals.

This type of technology is also used to identify livestock. The National Livestock Identification Scheme (Australia) includes microchip implants as part of its standard.

Of course the technology is not limited to tracking and identifying animals. Microchips are used in and on products for asset tracking, inventory control and to deter theft. Moreover, the shoelaces of marathon runners have been microchipped for timing purposes.

This type of device has been used to identify refugees, such as the 34 000 Haitian refugees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 1994. The refugees were given wristbands containing a microchip which were fastened to their wrists with a rivet gun. The refugees left Cuba en mass when President Fidel Castro announced that he would no longer prevent Cubans from leaving their homeland. The amount of fatalities at sea due to Cubans launching unseaworthy vessels in hurricane swept waters prompted US President Clinton to use the US's Guantanamo Bay facility as an immigration processing centre. The wristbands proved to be a highly effective means of identifying refugees on such a large scale.

This technology represents the ability to effectively identify and control domestic animals and products in a timely and highly accurate manner. It is also being used to track and control people. This too is an effective method of data control and communication; provided the technology does not impinge on one's right to privacy.

Damian McDonald
October 2007

The AVID standard Multi Mode Reader and manual were manufactured by AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) Identification Systems, Inc., 3185 Hamner Avenue, Norco, CA 92860, USA. The products were marketed in Australia by Veterinary Marketing Network of Wahroonga, NSW Australia. The donor, who marketed the products in Australia, recognised their significance as a technological advancement, and donated the objects to the Powerhouse Museum.

The AVID Standard Multi Mode reader is a hand held identity tag reader for AVID and other Radio Frequency Identity tags. The hand held unit has beige plastic housing, at the base is a black oval pad that is the Reader antenna or 'boot', this, when activated, emits a low electromagnetic radio frequency signal to activate the ID tag.

On the top face of the unit is a long rectangular LCD screen, on top of the handle is a black rubber 'power' switch and below is a black rubber 'read' switch. The unit is battery operated and at the back of the handle is a cavity for a single 9 volt battery. On either side of the handle are small black rubber patches, these lift back to reveal, on the left, a remote read switch jack and remote power supply jack and to the right a computer interface connector.

The Manual is a ten page booklet with black spiral binding, A4 size it has a beige card cover printed in black "STANDARD/MULTI MODE READER/AVID 1001/OPERATING MANUAL/APRIL 1994" The pages inside are white paper printed in black, front side only.

There is a business card stapled to the top cover of one Hugh Southwood, of Veterinary Marketing Network of Wahroonga, NSW Australia.

Made: California, USA; 1998

2008/11/2

1998