Can I just buy a magnetic ring somewhere, giving all the same benefits but without the downsides of surgery? Still sense EM fields but without pain, infection risk, can still get MRIs etc.
Super glue a tiny powerful magnet to your fingernail.
This sounds like a pretty good alternative.
I have several magnetic rings. Nowhere near the sensitivity of an implant, but still has the usefulness of grabbing things and so on, with the added benefit of removal at security checkpoints.
not really. the sensitivity of magnets under the skin in contact with nerve endings is an order of magnitude more powerful.
What about something that conducts vibration + an exterior device?
I've tried taping a Zen Magnet to my finger, and while I'm sure it's nothing like having an implant, it was mildly amusing. For a few minutes.
I wonder if a piercing would be a suitable hybrid, giving additional sensitivity while still being removable. If detecting EM fields is the goal, I'm not sure there's much advantage to using a finger as the location.
That question is addressed in the article.
That answer was added sometime after it hit HN - see wayback machine.