We Are Born Cyborg

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WE ARE BORN CYBORGFelix Martin Lebedinzew (B-32013) und Jannis Paul Wicke (B-32242) im Lehrprojekt 1 bei Professor Lars Grau

Objective of the Project 2

Research 2

History and Today 3

Model of Cyborg 4

Reality and Virtuality 6

2039 7

Brain Microchip 7

Enhanced Eye Lens 8

Nanobots 8

A normal Day in Stanley‘s Life 8

Society 9

Immortality 10

Conclusion 11

List of References 12

List of Images 13

Table of Contents

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In this project we are looking into the future – 25 years and further. As this is a very broad topic, affecting all areas of life, this text does not claim to bring understanding to all of these areas, but instead only offers a view on a few aspects. Nevertheless, this work will give an overview over some opportunities and risks in the future made possible by technology. It will identify the relationship between tech-nology and nature with the human as our central topic. The human and its environment, the relationship between reality and virtuality, technological possibilities and society play a central role in this paper.

Objective of the Project

What kind of technology is used right now? And what is being de-veloped today? Where will we be in 25 years? Researching through a wide range of websites, magazines and even many sci-fi movies helped us to get an overview and incentive of what might be possible in the future. The concept of Space Elevator is one of many that might help to bring humanity forward. Envision a life in outer space. This sounds crazy but scientist are working on ideas to build prototypes and raise the human to its next evolutionary stage and enable life on other planets (cf. spaceref.com, 2013).Furthermore 3D-Printing is becoming more important every day and is on its way to change the behavior of consu-mers enormously. The possibilities are endless: 3D-Printing could enab-le you to produce anything from food, over human tissue, to medicine and your personal gadgets.There could be possibilities to rebuild your own organic material and strengthen your health to an unknown level. Also nearly every product you are now buying in a shop could be crafted inside your own house. There is a large range of opportunities and thesis to develop forward bringing products inside the 3D-printing-industry and they will have big effects on all of our lives (cf. Karberg, 2013).

Research

Image 1: Space Elevator Concept

WE ARE BORN CYBORG

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In 1957 the first Cochlear Implant (restores the ability to hear) was created. A controversial prosthetic, still the first neuroprosthetic and a milestone in the history of medical technology (cf. Wikipedia contributors, 2014). Over the past thirty years many other neuropro-sthetics have been developed based on the same idea.The Auditory Brainstem Implant replaced the Cochlear Implant by now (cf. Wikipedia contributors, 2014) and the company Second Sight has developed the Argus II, a retinal prothesis that improves the ability to see for people with a degenerative eye disease (cf. Second Sight Medical Products Inc. 2014).

History and Today

DEKA has developed a robotic arm called “Luke“, after Luke Skywal-ker’s artificial arm in Star Wars, that is controlled by the user’s brain waves. It connects to the remaining muscle of the limb with electro-des and receives the commands straight from the biological tissue (cf. Deka, 2014). Other implants can help patients with the Tourette syn-drome, bladder and pain control or even some forms of tetraplegia (cf. Wikipedia contributors, 2014).Another interesting development is the possibility to print human in vitro cultivated cells, a new technology that is currently being tested by Anthony Atala at the Wake Forest Ins-titute for Regenerative Medicine. He uses a special printer to produce a complete organ within just a few hours. Another machine first scans and then applies the cells directly on the patient’s injury. (cf. Atala, 2011).

Nowadays those technologies are mainly being used for restorative reasons but in the near future they might bring more benefits to the field of medicine. However, a glimpse at the cyborg scene lets us already conjecture further into the future. Tan Le’s brain-computer-interface for example reads its user’s brainwa-ves, providing the possibility to control virtual objects and even phy-sical electronics (cf. Le, 2010).Animals can be remotely controlled (N.

Image 2: Deka Hand

These are just a few futuristic concepts that have already been tested. For now we focus on the closer connection between upcoming technology and the body. A new race might establish the next level on the evolutionary scale – Cyborgs. The harmony of a self defined ‘corrected’ body advanced with technical enhancements to make life easier. Upcoming changes in the industry and a dynamic digitalized environment will affect the normal life.

We isolated a central question for this excerpt:How will technology combined with the human body change our everyday lives and our perception of reality and virtuality?

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N., 2009) and technology has gained an ever-growing position.Humans will surpass their original abilities with the power of technology.

The Australian Performance Artist Stelarc attached a mechanical human-like hand to his right arm. This gadget was made to the di-mensions of his real right hand. It offers him more options to interact extraordinary to reality. For example a 290 degrees wrist rotation (clockwise and counter-clockwise) is possible. Also a tactile feedback system for a sense of touch is integrated.The most excellent part is the control system. Motions of the third Arm are controlled by electrical signals of the muscles (EMG). Signals from muscle contrac-tions are elected, pre-amplified, intensified and sent to the control system. Sterlac´s performances of the third hand have been part of cyborg discourses and he gives a preview of individuals been directly connected with technological enhancements (cf. Arcadiou, 2014).

There are many other examples of redefining the human body even in sports. The topmodel and athlete Aimee Mullins was born without fibula. From child on she was dependent on protheses. In Summer-Pa-ralympics 1996 in Atlanta she achieves two sprint-world-records (cf. Wikipedia contributors, 2014). This illustrates an perfect example of the cooperation of nature and technology. Protheses like we know today are only the beginning of something bigger. There is an enormous develop-ment potential and it gets more focused every day.

What does this word describe? Even though many different experts are trying to come up with a good definition of what a cyborg is, the-re still has been no fixed definition to grasp the complexity of what a Cyborg can be. The term Cyborg or cybernetic organism was formed by Manfred E. Clynes and Nathan S. Kline. They defined an organism whose “self-regulation must function without the benefit of cons-ciousness in order to cooperate with the body´s own autonomous homeostatic controls“ (Clynes & Kline, 1960).

What does this mean? Imagine the world of tomorrow in which pro-cesses like mentioned before (space elevators, 3D-printing organic material) became true. The question that comes to mind is: How can

Model of Cyborg

Image 3: Sterlac

Image 4:Aimee Mullins

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our bodies survive in such a developed world? It seems like there will be a dramatic change, not only for inorganic products but also for living species. A new kind of human-created evolutionary adaption process might start. Being cyborg could mean to transcend our natural limita-tions leading to a different form of life. It can exist in every threatening and extrem environment. At this point the difference between a robot and cyborg needs to be shown. A robot is an artificial inorganic entity while a cyborg is partly organic and partly machine. Today robots are not evolving themselves while cyborgs are a result of a survival instin-ct. It is pure future evolution (cf. Tabbarah, 2013, p. 14-21).

Being a cyborg does not mean to be less human nor to be a machi-ne. It is kind of the definition of the ultimate-human desire of con-tinuous improvement. There are already many different theoretic papers about the change of humanity and a new breed of organism of post-biological transitions. Katherine N Hayles and Hans Moravec argue that the world is „shifting from Humanist to a Post Humanist condition“ (Hayles, 1999). This implies a new material shift in our organism systems as human beinings.The human becomes even more resistant than it already is. If a person’s organ fails for example there will be either an organic substitute, a mechanical one or both. Because technology shrinks permanently it can replicate certain me-chanisms of our body in our body. This illustrates the conglomeration of nature and technology in the future.

However, human see the universe in dualisms (cf. Cook, 2004, p. 2). There are always two sides and a line between good and bad, real and artificial, woman and man, human and machine. But when the border between human and machine is dropped, other dualisms could dissolve as well. Just like the human with technology, the opposing components of a construct will conglomerate leading to a new understanding of them. For example a new interpretation of gender and sex. Peta Cook cites the Extropy Institute as followed in his Paper to the social change in the 21st century: “Sex and gender will become mutable, allowing the possibility of ’negsexuals, solosexuals, technosexuals, postsexuals, multisexuals [,and] Virtual Reality sexuals’.“(Cook, 5f)

The cyborg once again has the opportunity to go way beyond the boundaries of the human understanding of the world, because it can be the beginning of the irrevocable dissolution of the dualistic cons-tructs. The perception of ourselves as cyborgs demands the blurring of boundaries between body, mind, time, technology, and space.

Image 5: Cyborg Thinking

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The amalgamation of our real and virtual world is already affecting our lives every day. By using smartphones and having mobile access to all the information collected in a virtual space our understanding of the today-real-world is totally different from 20 years before. The influ-ence of media is manipulating us and there is no clear gap any longer between real and unreal. The space conception of an artificially cons-tructed environment in which we might habitat in 100 years will react fundamentally different from the one we now reside. A cyborg will be connected to its ambience and these adaptive organisms will respond to changes in a dynamic environment.

Also our houses, cars and cities could be adaptive and responsive. The 3D-Printing process is only the beginning of the creation of this new world. Being connected to our surroundings will completely dis-solve a separation between reality and virtuality. There is no differen-ce between these two constructs any longer because joint together they build the next logical step on the ladder of evolution.Gadgets like Google glasses will be useless when there is the pos-sibility to work on a neurobiological level safely and economically. Displays will be needless when projection can take place virtually anywhere. This leads to a very complex scenario. Our picture of the world is based on our cognition and if the human senses cannot only be partially manipulated but completely controlled, the world will change. Virtuality and reality will become one. This is an extreme prospect of the future and might frighten people. Changes like this would not happen over night and new generations would grow up with virtuality, perceiving it as normal. Even if this was applied to only certain parts of our lives it could entail enormous possibilities. On the other side, it could also lead to a Matrix like dystopia: a life comple-tely in virtuality.

Reality and Virtuality

Image 6: Brain manipulation

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We created a scenario based on a fictional persona called „Stanley“. He is a cyborg living in 2039. By following him a day and imagining his life circumstances we pointed out possibilities and risks. By taking a closer look on three of Stanley‘s enhancements it is easier to deter-mine different aspects.

2039

Brain Microchip A brain microchip might be the most extensive enhancement for Stanley. It is implemented at the backside of his brain and connected to his nerve fibre. It can communicate with Stanley´s mind, monitors his health and brings wireless connectivity to the internet. Also his identity is stored on the chip. One subdivision of the chip is referred to as the mental screen, protecting him against mental attacks. The chip can hand over information but cannot make decisions. It is a feature where the wide range of possibilities and ideas to develop unimagined things just starts.

Brain-to-Brain communication could be enabled and might make the use of spoken language needless. Furthermore the perfect bond between reality and virtuality is created by having 24/7 access to online services. Therefore the chance to interact with his environment and even with other body extensions is made possible by this kind of technology (cf. Penelope, 2012). However with every upcoming new technology also new risks emerge. The Brain microchip could be hacked and remote control of cyborgs would be possible.

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Morning: Stanley wakes up in the morning because his integrated brain microchip stimulates his nerves. That feels great. Afterwards his coffee machine automatically brews coffee and his foodprinter prints scrambled eggs. While having breakfast he checks his e-mails, we-ather and events. He can see those in his field of view of his enhanced eye lens. He leaves for work and his door automatically locks and the lights get switched off. His car is chauffeuring him to work and he prepares data for his lunch-meeting.

Midday: At his workplace he is not googleing the old school way. All needed information is available in his mind and visible in his eye. In-teractive brain wave communication with his cyborg colleagues and devices speeds up his workflow enormously. During the presentation for his non cyborg colleagues Stanley is able to stream data directly out of his mind onto the screen.

A normal Day in Stanley‘s Life

In 2014 Stanley would have needed Google glasses. In 2039 his en-hanced eye lens is connected to the brain microchip and works like a screen. Stanley gets information projected on his field of view. Further-more he is not only able to see sharper than normal people, but he can also zoom in. Moreover Stanley can see other wavelengths like ultra-violet and infrared enabling him to see at night. An interactive field of view will react dynamically to surroundings and collaboration will be more efficient. However, physical eye damage is not impossible (cf. Second Sight Medical Products Inc. 2014).

Enhanced Eye Lens

Nanobots are micro robots floating inside Stanley´s body. They are moving with his bloodstream searching for germs. Nanobots are si-mulating natural antibodies and neutralize infected cells and viruses. By strengthening the immune system and accelerating healing pro-cesses nanobots would lift up the medical status quo to its next level.All these enhancements would be an intensive intervention to nor-mal life that we know today.

Nanobots

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Afternoon: On the way back home he quickly checks his fridge content. Ah, a fresh beer awaits him at home - he sees al the groceries listed in his eye lens. He gives a thought command to message all his friends and they decide to meet up at a local bar. He arrives at home and gets some food. The brainchip tells him how much calories he still needs to eat that day - Stanley lives heathy because all his body information are monitored. Time to get ready for the bar. Stanley takes the train, his eye shows him the fastest way. In the train a non-cyborg sneezes and Stan-ley smiles thinking about the nanobots protecting him against sickness.

Evening: At the bar, he meets his friends and they enjoy a beer to-gether. Because there are some non-cyborgs, he still talks in spoken language, instead of brain-to-brain communication. He recognizes a female cyborg at the other table. His enhanced eye lens comes with face recognition. A quick check of the girl shows Stanley her social profile. They flirt a bit through their minds but Stan does not want to be impolite to his friends and gets back to talking. After a great eve-ning he goes to bed and sends some good night wishes to his newly found ladyfriend.

On the basis of the mentioned aspects we critically summarized pos-sible opportunities about the cyborg-century.

First of all special attention is paid to society. Of course, the technolo-gy could be used to influence people in positive ways. Non the less it could lead to a division of society. There a several reasons, for examp-le neuroprosthetics are expensive and only social classes with the financial means can afford them. In addition there could be a coun-termovement: Today cyborgs have already been sporadic victims of racism, structural discrimination and violent attacks. Therefore antiracism laws could be adapted and even special cyborg laws for their protection could pass. However, the cyborg will become more and more common, less strange and people will probably become accustomed to it. The definition of a human in its ordinary use might

Society

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even change. Still, it is pretty presumable opponents will always exist.A total dependence on the prosthetics companies because of up-dates and replacements is conceivable as well. Not to mention other problems like the fatal abuse and black markets. In all probability the upcoming cybernetic section will divide society. A gap between offliners and onliners would arise. Yet another question should be considered: Where is the line bet-ween a human and a machine. It is difficult to arrive at a forecast but within the next century people will possibly decide by what they can identify as a machine and what seems to be human: Enhancements implemented or almost invisible will cause less irritation than tho-se looking like a machine. A human covered in visible technology would probably still not be able to be socially accepted and laws will probably regulate the maximum amount of how much a person is allowed to consist of mechanical parts..Still, nature and technology will conglomerate. We think this might bring many new opportuni-ties for humanity but simultaneously new ethical conflicts and other problems. Is there a new race of humans creating itself by supporting technology?

Projecting this technology in the future: we will become older and older, and every time an organ fails we can just print a new one or have the technological counterpart. This scenario leads to immorta-lity. If you bring this thought to a conclusion it ends up in a dystopia. The idea of immortality and its consequences is far to extensive to be covered at this point.

Immortality

Image 7: Nanobots

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As a result it can be concluded that an upcoming change of your “normal“ life will definitely come and is not obnoxious. The linking between modern technology and nature will first help a large part of humanity and later affect all human beings. It will bring evolution to a new stage. The changes in technology, society, and economy that will arise might create a whole new world. Unimaginable gates will open up. However, a word of caution is needed at this point: “With great power comes great responsibility“ as said by François-Marie Arouet also known as Voltaire. These developments should not be rushed and treated carefully. Besides the opportunities they carry many risks and in the hand of ruling companies they are on the verge to become just another instrument of capitalism.

To present some of the aspects we worked out and as part of the Macromedia University Future-Award, we created a website.www.future-cyborg.com illustrates a day in Stanley’s life, a regular cyborg guy in 2039, talks about his gadgets and dares a small out-look. The website is easily understandable for people that have not heard much about this matter before and with illustrations for better comprehension.

Conclusion

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List of References Arcadiou, Stelios (Sterlac) (2014). Third Hand. From: http://stelarc.org/?catID=20265

Atala, Anthony (2011). Printing a human kidney. From: https://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney and https://www.ted.com/playlists/23/the_future_of_medicine

Clynes, Manfred E. & Kline, Nathan S. (1960). Cyborgs and Space. From: http://partners.nytimes.com/library/cyber/surf/022697surf-cy-borg.html

Cook, Peta (2004). The Modernistic Posthuman Prophecy of Donna Haraway Centre for Social Change Research Queensland University of Techno-logy. From: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/646/1/cook_peta.pdf

Deka Research and Development Corporation (2014). The DEKA Arm. From: http://www.dekaresearch.com/deka_arm.shtml

Hayles, N. Katherine (1999).How We became Posthuman. From: http://faculty.georgetown.edu/irvinem/theory/Hayles-Posthu-man-excerpts.pdf

Jenkins, Penelope (2012). THE CYBORG EXPERIMENTS.Based on a talk from Virtual Futures 2.0’11. From: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/knowledge/themes/virtualfutures/kevinwarwick/

Karberg, Sascha (2013). Biotechnologie: 3-D-Drucker sollen Organe herstellen. From: http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/medizin/bio-technologie-3-d-drucker-sollen-organe-erstellen-a-889660.html

Le, Tan (2010). A headset that reads your brainwaves. From: http://www.ted.com/talks/tan_le_a_headset_that_reads_your_brainwaves

N. N. (2009). Flight of the remote-controlled cyborg beetle. From: http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2009/09/23/flight-of-the-remote-controlled-cyborg-beetle/

N. N. (2013). Space Elevator Top Story. From: http://spaceref.com/spa-ce-elevator/

Second Sight Medical Products Inc. (2014). From: http://www.2-sight.eu/en/

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Tabbarah, Faysal. (2013). We are born Cyborg. WATAD Magazine, 4, 14-21.

Voltaire. Jean, Adrien. Beuchot, Quentin and Miger, Pierre, Auguste. „Œuvres de Voltaire, Volume 48“. Lefèvre, 1832

Wikipedia contributors (2014). Neuroprosthetics. From: http://en.wi-kipedia.org/wiki/Neuroprosthetics

Wikipedia contributors (2014). Visual Prosthetic. From: http://en.wiki-pedia.org/wiki/Visual_prosthetic

Wikipedia contributors (2014). Argus Retinal Prosthesis. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_Retinal_Prosthesis

Wikipedia contributors (2014). Aimee Mullins. From: http://de.wikipe-dia.org/wiki/Aimee_Mullins

Image 1: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/624_351/images/live/p0/0x/j5/p00xj5n7.jpg

Image 2: http://www.thetegmentum.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/deka-arm-1.jpg

Image 3: http://cec.sonus.ca/econtact/14_2/images/stelarc_amplifiedbo-dy2.jpg

Image 4: http://blog.amsvans.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/aimee_mullins_beach_shot_2400x340.jpg

Image 5: http://www.islandbreath.org/2010Year/06/100621cyborg.jpg

Image 6: http://futuristicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/future-brainscanning-headset-monitors-your-mental-workload-futuri-stic-4.jpg

Image 7: http://shayhealyblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/nanobots-red-graff.jpg

All websites reviewed 28.06.2014

List of Images