Sometimes referred to as “Human 2.0”, the idea of human augmentation is all about improving intellectual or bodily functions to maximise human capacity. While this technology can include simple human ability replication such as the use of prosthetics or the creation of organic tissues for medical purposes, human augmentation can also go as far as supplementing or even surpassing standard human abilities – possibly disrupting humanity as we know it.
In terms of augmentations, we can think of exoskeletons; something we’ve seen in sci-fi movies like Aliens or Avatar, but that are very much real today. In fact, this technology has been in use for well over 10 years – This video dates from 2011 and already shows the working technology – replacing wheelchairs in some cases, and aiding military operations in others. Here is a more recent video (2021) highlighting its use in terms of increased mobility.
Another human-focused-innovation comes from one of Elon Musk’s start-ups: https://neuralink.com/; a technology that interfaces the brain with digital platforms. While brain wearables, such as Japanese neuro-toy Necomimi cat ears, controlled by emotions, look for specific input and provide an extremely simple output, brain implants are another story.
Neuralink is a work-in-progress tech that tracks brain activity, to a yet unseen level. In fact, a demo of the tech was shown, which enabled a monkey to wirelessly play video games using his brain.
From an information technology perspective, it means tracking, cataloguing, and interpreting brain-based human input to transform a new type of data into information. It has the potential to disrupt hardware norms. Perhaps we don’t need remotes, keyboards or mice if we are to control digital platforms using our minds.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Let’s talk exceeding human abilities. The future that goes beyond the digitalization of the human race.
Have you heard of memory implants? This tech, albeit still in early development, has potential not only to aid Alzheimer patients recover by mimicking the signal processing of neurons, but to generally increase human psychological abilities. In fact, this hippocampal prosthesis was already tested on monkeys back in 2013, which showed significant improvement in their image-identification task performance.
In 2018, the first human implant was demonstrated, which showed up to 37% increase in memory functions in patients with memory impairments. While this tech has proven itself in re-establishing connections, it has yet to be tested in terms of improving regular human functions by means of modifying brain connections.
Together, brain input tracking and enhancement opens up endless possibilities in terms of potential, but also morals. Should decoded brain data be mingled with at all – tracked, modified, used?
Computer-brain interface technology is a concept that incites fear in many people. It’s easy to imagine the worst, such as open-memory access, hacking, or perhaps even more nefarious ends. However, change is often cause for distress, and this is no different.
One thing is sure, the tech is coming, but will we be ready for its implications? What other ways can you imagine it disrupting industries as we know them?
