PHOTO: Man implants 'cyborg' chip into arm to link up with his Androidtablet

Painful procedure: The chip communicates with his Android tablet

Motherboard

A self-described 'biohacker' endured a painful operation to install a huge electronic chip in his arm - without anaesthetic or the help of a doctor. Tim Cannon, a software developer from Pittsburgh, had the chip inserted to monitor his body temperature. It communicates with his Android tablet over a wireless Bluetooth connection, has green flashing lights that can be seen through his skin and and can send him a text if he starts running a fever.

Cannon - who describes himself as a 'do-it-yourself cyborg' - works for Grindhouse Wetware, a company dedicated to "augmenting humanity using safe, affordable open source technology."

He claims to be the first person to have a device implanted into his body solely for the purpose of "enhancing" himself.

Cannon became interested in electronic body modification out of a desire for immortality.

In an interview with YouTube channel MotherboardTV, he said "I want to live to be thousands of years old. I don't want to die. I don't understand why anybody would."

The procedure, which inserted a chip about the size of a pack of cards into his left forearm, was performed by 'body modification artist' and tattooist Steve Haworth without anaesthetic.

Haworth had to perform the procedure because a medically licensed surgeon wouldn't be allowed to implant the device as it isn't government approved. He used ice to dull the pain.

Cannon went straight from having the device implanted into another interview, where he said the procedure involved "a lot of pain and a lot of grunting" and his body had put itself into "trauma mode."

He said: "As far as my body knows, I've basically just been stabbed many times."

The video - which includes before and after interviews - is below. And be warned, it's pretty gruesome