The future of personal implantables: opportunities in healthcare and beyond

Implantable devices have been transforming medicine and healthcare since the first heart pacemakers in the 1950s. Professor Kevin Warwick brought more attention to future possibilities by becoming the first person to have a device with RFID capabilities implanted in his body, back in 1998. But how much progress has taken place since then? And what lies ahead for implantables?

Once these devices include biosensors, could people gain early notification of important changes in their physiology? With widespread distribution of smartphones with NFC readers that can access and analyse the data from these sensors, are we on the threshold of significant improvements in physical and mental wellbeing?

This London Futurists event features Anna Luisa Schaffgotsch, the Founder and CEO of Impli Limited. Anna will be sharing her vision for the future of implantables, and showcasing key market research. She will also be addressing questions such as:

*) Are the 2020s the decade in which interest in implantables extends beyond underground communities of biohackers towards mainstream adoption?
*) How do implantable devices compare to what can already be accomplished by wearable sensors?
*) What are the main issues and opportunities with the development of new products and solutions using implantables?
*) Are implantable devices just a fantasy from science fiction, or is wide adoption credible?
*) And in that case, is the outcome more likely to be dystopian or genuinely beneficial?

== About the speaker ==

Anna has an MSc from Imperial College in Biotechnology. She spent a decade working for start ups and mid sized companies in the life science industry. She has a strong passion for technology and skiing.

Anna founded Impli in April 2019 with the mission to "make peoples' lives safer and more convenient using implantable technology".

For more about Impli see https://www.impli.org/.

== Meeting logistics ==

2pm-4pm, Sat 22nd February 2020.

Venue: Room B18, Birkbeck College (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/maps), Torrington Square WC1E 7HX, London.

Room B18 is on the basement floor in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.

The event will be followed by a chance to continue the discussion in a nearby pub - The Meeting Place bar in the Royal National Hotel (https://www.imperialhotels.co.uk/en/restaurants-and-bars/the-meeting-place), 38-51 Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0DG.

== Wifi access ==

Wireless network: BBK-Guest
Username: Saturday22
Password: X6ev4c

(The username and password are case sensitive. In practise, it seems this wifi system often needs 2-3 attempts to make a successful connection.)

== Event hashtag ==

#LonFut

== Covering meeting costs ==

A small fee (£8) is payable to attend this meetup. This fee covers room hire costs. Please pay in advance, online, after you RSVP.

(NB you don't need a PayPal account to use the PayPal interface.)

Alternatively, if there are still seats available, payment of £10 in that case can be made in cash at the door on the day. (Requesting payment in advance assists with accurate planning of the event.)

Journalists are welcome to attend the meeting free-of-charge - please contact the organiser in advance.