Gazette readers are highly sceptical about the idea of using implanted microchips to pay for goods and services.

The procedure involves placing a rice-grain-sized microchip under the skin, and could then be used to pay in shops in a similar fashion to contactless cards or mobile phone.

In an online poll, readers were asked if they would consider getting a microchip—the size of a grain of rice—implanted into their hand, with which they can pay for transactions, similar to a contactless card. An overwhelming 77.9 per cent of survey participants said they would not entertain the idea of the implant, with 14.8 per cent saying they would. Seven-point-four per cent said they “don’t know”.

This broadly falls in line with the national consensus. A recent YouGov poll has indicated that only 10 per cent of people would consider getting the chip, with an overwhelming 83 per cent saying they would not—or probably would not—get the implant.

The first microchip of this type was implanted in 1998, but has become commercially available only in the past decade.

Follow the Twitter account @RossGazette to participate in future polls.