#teamglass

Talking about Cyborg’s future in 2017 it is a little bit like talking about the Internet in the 1990. There are so many uncertainties, and the general masses don’t really have a clue of what it might offer humanity in terms of advancement of our entire race. But despite that, lots of effort has gone into research and development of Cyborg’s future, professor Harari from Hebrew University of Jerusalem said: “humans as a race were driven by dissatisfaction and that we would not be able to resist the temptation to ‘upgrade’ ourselves, whether by genetic engineering or technology. “We are programmed to be dissatisfied, “ said Prof Harari. “Even when humans gain pleasure and achievements it is not enough. They want more and more.” Rather through genetic bioengineering or technology, human will eventually will come up with a way to embed what we have in our phone today into our body. On the political side, the growth of cyborg will drive the reform of current regulations and policies. Due to the current rules mostly only apply to the physical world; virtual world is still a much unregulated and uncontrollable environment. Our intellectual properties and information exist within the virtual space, but once human integrated ourselves within, then we are no longer talking or thinking about what’s virtual and what’s not. It is a new way to interact, exchange thoughts or information within our body, I’m not sure if the way we communicate will be the same in 100 years, maybe we will just be sending brainwave and radio signal into each other’s antenna. Perhaps there will be no need for physical space to store all the servers that host our data, instead each of us is a self powered server that constantly connected to each other and exchanging information. Extension of our virtual power has already being exercised in cyber warfare and drone strike. At the moment it is still at a high cost to do damage to the physical world through technology. However on an emotional level, internet already has the power to temper and damage our emotional state in a way. And this might be harder to fix than what’s done in the physical world. Therefore when modifying our body becomes more affordable which is what North Sense is trying to achieve, then cyborgism should be a much easier topic to approach, discuss and educate.

In my opinion I’m optimistic for what sensory enhancement could help human unlock more abilities. But I do have concern from a spiritual perspective; if cyborg continues to make us more and more aware of our surrounding thus our temptation to crave for new information skyrocketed. I’m not sure if we are more aware of ourselves then, or are we simply losing sight of what’s the most fundamental of being a human, which is our consciousness. When the day comes, we will be bombarded with information that might drag our attention away from liberating our cognitive independence/consciousness. Then what are we really? Mental slaveries of our very own creation?

Cyborgnatic / Cyborgism Victor Chen

The term “Cyborg” came from Nathan Kline and Manfred Clynes, it was used in a magazine talking about the advantage of self-regulating human-machine. But it means being with both biological and artificial parts (Mechanical, electronic) Here’s a quote from Steve Mann (professor at the University of Toronto) describes Cyborgism as "The incorporation of technological components that violate or transform the bodily/agential integrity of human beings" There are still a large portion of people believe that Cyborgism is shifting away from nature and how human body aren’t meant to be altered. However, we have all modified our bodies in some way, tattoo, ear piercing and such could all be a way of personal or aesthetic enhancement. Is being “artificial” a bad thing? When technologies have achieved to a level that will potentially save a dying life due to a naturally occur event from our body (cancer or color-blindness, hearing impairment etc.) Would the debate be on whether or not this is morally acceptable, or can this save someone from dying? There are a lot of questions that can be thrown into this debate, as if cyborg has the rights all human posses? Moreover, is it fair that people modified their body technologically having advantage in certain social/professional event? The policy and regulation for most of the stuff will need to be refreshed due to this advancement in human technology. Also at what extent can we differentiate, “Human implant” verses “wearable device”? Wearable is also using technologies to simplify/enhance our productivity, on ethical level there aren’t really been any discussion regarding that, but mostly on the privacy concern of being recorded in video or audio since wearable technologies has shrink so much in size that can be easily disguised as something else.

I am still dwelling between the moral and ethical aspect of all technologies, but I believe if we don’t continue to develop our senses, or use what we have to prevent catastrophic event or help other in need, then our civilization might cease to exist. I speak on behalf of my personal opinion, and obviously all technologies rise question and problem. However, it’s ultimately our responsibility to give that new technology a space to perform, while allowing it to achieve its original intention, even if we have doubts on its outcome.