Entertainment

Eidos Montreal. Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Square Enix, 2011. PC.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution takes place in 2027, when cybernetic technologies are beginning to become fairly commonplace. An extremely well-researched game, Deus Ex: Human Revolution raises some issues with the topic of cybernetic augmentation. The first is the ethicality of the augmentation itself. In game, the main antagonists are a group of so-called “Purists” who believe that augmentation is evil, and are trying to shut down Sarif Industries, the main manufacturer of augmentation technologies. The main character, Adam Jensen, suffers mortal wounds and is augmented in order to save his life, replacing major areas of his body with cybernetic replacements. This raises another host of questions on the ethicality of augmentation, as it was not even Jensen’s choice to begin with. However, as this is presented in the medium of a video game, the choice is entirely up to the player whether to be resentful of this change, or to be grateful for life and superhuman capabilities. This game also touches on the topic of discrimination between augmented and baseline humans. Rather than take the fairly standard approach of augmented humans discriminating against baseline humans, in this game, “Purists” are disgusted by “cogs,” as they call augmented humans, and will often act in a hostile manner to “cogs.” While augmented humans may face social discrimination, Deus Ex: Human Revolution also raises the topic of economic discrimination. Speaking to civilians, one may learn that many of them are out of jobs due to competition with augmented workers, with whom they are unable to compete. Being a video game, the choices on how to interpret or respond to any of these issues is widely left up to the player, and generally avoids outright statements over which side is correct, presenting both as the player explores the world.

 

Ghost in the Shell. Dir. Mamoru Oshii. Perf. Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, and Iemasa Kayumi. Production I.G., 1995. Film.

Ghost in the Shell takes place in 2029, by which cybernetic technologies have been fully embraced. Many of the main characters no longer have any sort of biological component to them at all, their “ghosts,” as the mind or soul is called, being uploaded to a cybernetic body, with abilities far surpassing any biological human. The film focuses on what it truly means to be human. The main character of the film, Motoko Kusanagi, along with other members of Public Security Section 9, who  have entirely cybernetic bodies, are forced to confront their own existence, questioning what they are: humans, or machines? Despite the non-organic bodies, they were born entirely human, and have human minds, ghosts, that were uploaded to these cybernetic bodies, or shells. As the story follows these characters, the audience would likely have no problem accepting these people as being human, as they carry out fairly normal lives. However, the antagonist of the film, the Puppet Master, is revealed to be an artificial intelligence created to hack into people’s ghosts for espionage purposes, gaining sentience, and inhabiting a cybernetic shell. His ghost appears human, but he was created, not born. The film answers no questions as to whether or not he, or any of the characters are truly human, leaving that for the viewer to question. Most would say that the Puppet Master is not human, while the characters were born human are. However, as the Puppet Master asks, “can you offer me proof of your existence?  How can you, when neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is?” Regardless of one’s opinion on the humanity of the characters, Ghost in the Shell raises many interesting philosophical questions regarding cybernetic enhancement, and demonstrates that as cybernetic enhancement is embraced, the line between human and machine will become increasingly blurred.

 

 

 

‘’And can you offer me proof of your existence? How can you, when neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is?’’
Read more at http://myanimelist.net/anime/43/Ghost_in_the_Shell#ZCAi64xzcD9WtGvf.99

 

Reading

Naam, Ramez. More than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement. New York: Broadway, 2005. Print.

Ramez Naam is a professional technologist and science fiction writer, who worked as the CEO of Apex Nanotechnologies before working for Microsoft, as well as being a fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.

This book is a non-fiction work, and explores current technologies which can be used to augment or enhance human capability, future areas of study, as well as debate over the ethicality of said technologies. Ramez gives examples of myriad technologies, such as gene therapy, which could easily extend human lifespan as well as quality of life. However, technologies such as these are slowed by the bureaucracy, who question ethics rather than looking at the obvious benefits of such technologies, and thus have not yet reached consumers.

The theme of the book overall is hopeful, expressing how the technologies explored in the book will benefit human society, though tinged by doubt as to whether these technologies will be allowed by scientifically incompetent politicians. However, Ramez suspects that while bureaucracy may be able to slow the progress of technology, the human desire for progress and innovation will ultimately prevail, bringing technologies with both the power to heal and to enhance to people.

More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement provides a detailed, thoroughly-researched view at technologies which can either heal human ailments or be used to enhance human capabilities, ranging from the insertion of genes into human cells by viruses to brain-computer interfaces. Ramez discusses the ethical issues associated with these technologies, and comes to the ultimate conclusion that preventing these technologies does more harm than good, through an economic, scientific, and social perspective.

 

 

Reynolds, Alastair. Blue Remembered Earth. New York: Ace, 2012. Print.

Alastair Reynolds is a British science fiction writer with a Ph.D. in astrophysics, who primarily writes hard-science space opera.

Blue Remembered Earth takes place in the 2160s, in a future world where Africa has emerged as the global economic and scientific superpower. Human lifespan has been extended by genetic engineering, and all humans are equipped with neural computer interfaces, allowing them to view augmented reality, translate speech, and operate telepresence robots. The Mechanism is a world-wide network that monitors these neural interfaces, preventing humans from committing any act of violence. Transhumans exist in an underwater society known as the United Aquatic Nations, modified for life underwater. A zone free of the neural network, as well as the Mechanism, exists on the moon in an area known as the Descrutinized Zone.

The novel is written with a third-person limited voice, following the paths of numerous characters throughout the novel. The characters may show some surprise at the more extreme of the transhumans, but augmentation such as extended lifespan or the neural computer interfaces are so commonplace as to be beneath mentioning. Reynolds presents these examples of cybernetic augmentation as neither good or evil. As in most of his novels, he does not predict that human nature has changed dramatically due to advancing technology. Some humans do good, some do evil, but these technologies do not radically alter what it means to be human, merely enhancing one’s ability rather than changing one’s identity.

Blue Remembered Earth explores a future in which cybernetic augmentation has been adopted, but is not the focal point of the world. Just as revolutionary inventions such as penicillin and the computer soon became commonplace, without raging ethical debates due to the obvious benefits, so too will advanced cybernetic technologies such as neural computer interfaces.

 

History

1796 – Vaccination
One might wonder why vaccination is an example of cybernetic augmentation. A cybernetically augmented organism is one that is an integration of natural and artificial systems. Vaccination, by introducing foreign material into the body in order to strengthen the body’s immune system, is therefore cybernetic augmentation.
While vaccination had been practiced since perhaps 1000 A.D, when a Chinese official innoculated his son with smallpox, the practice was not scientifically observed or put into common practice until the work of Edward Jenner in 1796. His work was significant not only for preventing millions of deaths to smallpox, and leading to the eventual eradication of a disease, but also in the realm of cybernetics, by integrating separate biological systems in order to produce a better organism: the smallpox-resistant human.

Riedel, Stefan. “SMALLPOX: THE ORIGIN OF A DISEASE.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 June 0005. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/

1945 – Artificial Limb Program
Started by the National Academy of Sciences in 1945, the Artificial Limb Program was founded in order to help veterans of WWII recuperate from injuries, namely those that resulted in amputation. This program was revolutionary because it brought the expertise of doctors as well as engineers to the field of prosthetics, to effectively create a working prosthesis that would improve the quality of life for an amputee. Rather than merely fitting something shaped like a human limb over an amputated appendage, this program marked the beginning of attempts to optimize prosthetics with modern science.

Wilson, Bennett. “History of Amputation Surgery and Prosthetics | O&P Virtual Library.” 1: History of Amputation Surgery and Prosthetics | O&P Virtual Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. <http://www.oandplibrary.org/alp/chap01-01.asp

2005 – DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program
The goal of this program was to create a “neurally-controlled arm and hand prosthesis that will perform, look, and feel like a natural limb” (Pope). This event was quite recent, and in fact is not yet over, as the product, the DEKA arm, also affectionately known as the Luke arm, after Luke Skywalker’s prothesis in Star Wars, is not yet available to the public. Therefore, the affect on this event on history cannot fully be known. However, the impact it will have on the future of biotechnology is quite great. The DEKA arm allows wearers to control it neurally, and it also can give feedback to the wearer, meaning that they can feel what they are touching with the arm. The neural interface used in the DEKA arm is revolutionary, as it allows for a natural-feeling artificial arm, the technology of which will likely be applied to all manner of prosthesis in the future.

Resnik, Linda. “Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development (JRRD).” Research Update: VA Study to Optimize DEKA Arm. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. <http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/10/473/resnik.html

Pope, David. “DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program, DEKA Research and Development, Neural Control Arm, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University APL, Geoff Ling.” DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program, DEKA Research and Development, Neural Control Arm, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University APL, Geoff Ling. Neurotech Business Report, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. <http://www.neurotechreports.com/pages/darpaprosthetics.html

Essays

Manuel, Chase A. “Human Augmentation: A Bioethical Implication Analysis of Cybernetics, Nanotechnology, and Upgrades to the Human Body.” National Law Review. Southern University Law Center, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.natlawreview.com/article/human-augmentation-bioethical-implication-analysis-cybernetics-nanotechnology-and-up

Subject: This essay discusses the current path of advances in biotechnology and cybernetic augmentation, focusing on the impact of these technologies on the law in future years. Manuel claims that the law must keep up with these technologies, adapting along with new technologies that open new possibilities which must be regulated.
Occasion: The article is quite recent, and in his article, Manuel cites that current improvements in prosthesis, brain-to-computer interfaces, and other such advancements in biotechnology necessitate that the law consider these advancements, and legislate accordingly.
Audience: This essay was written for submission into a legal writing contest, and as such reflects the effect on the law of cybernetic augmentation and biotechnology.
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to describe biotechnology and its effect on society, and how legislation must keep up with these advances in science.
Speaker: Manuel is a law student, writing for submission into a legal writing contest.
Tone: The tone of this essay is fairly objective, but is in support of biotechnology, albeit biotechnology with limits set by the law.

“Cybernetics – A Brave New World!” Trinity College Dublin. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <https://www.cs.tcd.ie/tangney/ComputersAndSociety/08-09-Assignments/p2-cybernetics.pdf

Subject: This essay discusses cybernetics, and the gap between actual cybernetics and the general public’s beliefs on cybernetics. This divide, the author claims, is widely driven by a poorly informed populace, whose only experience of cybernetic augmentation comes from poorly written science fiction.
Occasion: Written in 2009, this article is also fairly recent, and as such, the occasion is similar to the essay previously discussed, with cybernetic technology rapidly advancing.
Audience: The audience for this essay is likely those who are uninformed about cybernetic augmentation.
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to inform people of the truth of cybernetic augmentation, in order to change the stigma of the killer cyborgs that popular media presents.
Speaker: As the author for this essay is unknown, little can be said of the speaker.
Tone: The tone for this essay is rather informal, in order to connect with an audience who likely does not know about cybernetics. While the tone is generally didactic, this essay also contains brief elements of humor, as well as the occasional pop culture reference.

Sharpe, Dan. “Cyborg Philosophy: Ethical Issues Concerning Augmentation.” Cyborg DB: The World’s Largest Cyborg Database. N.p., 2007. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cyborgdb.org/sharpe.htm

Subject: The subject of this essay is the ethical issues concerning cybernetic augmentation. In this essay, the author discusses the reasoning of both sides, for and against cybernetic augmentation, before asserting his own opinions on the matter.
Occasion: Written in 2007, this essay discusses the rise in cybernetic technologies, and how the inevitable pursuit of these technologies would just as inevitably lead to debate over their ethicality.
Audience: The audience of this essay is primarily those who are uninformed about cybernetic augmentation, and secondarily those who are informed, or have just been informed by the essay, to which it presents questions of ethicality on these topics.
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to describe the arguments for and against cybernetic augmentation, primarily focusing on ethical issues. The author hopes to persuade the audience to favor, or at least tolerate, cybernetic augmentation.
Speaker: Sharpe is pro-cybernetic augmentation, viewing it not only as a way to advance science, but also as an expression of personal freedom.
Tone: The tone of this essay is rather personal, though well informed. The personal touch in the essay builds pathos with the audience, which is followed up with logos from the statistics and facts presented by the author.

 

Lin, Patrick. “Could Human Enhancement Turn Soldiers Into Weapons That Violate International Law? Yes.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 04 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/could-human-enhancement-turn-soldiers-into-weapons-that-violate-international-law-yes/266732/

Subject: This essay discusses possible negative ethical ramifications of cybernetic augmentation, specifically in warfare. Lin reaches the conclusion that our perception of ethics must change to accommodate for cybernetically enhanced humans, and that these ethics should be established, or at least considered, before they have to be.
Occasion: The occasion for this essay was the rise of cybernetic technologies, and the current international humanitarian law, which does not yet account for these technologies.
Audience: This article, published in the online version of a newspaper, is aimed at the general public.
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to point out the current lack of consideration for future technology — particularly cybernetic augmentation — in humanitarian law.
Speaker: Lin is a professor at California Polytechnic State University, and has written of topics such as robot ethics and ethics in emerging sciences.
Tone: In this essay, Lin makes use of rhetorical question and hypothetical situations in order to cause unjustified fear in the minds of readers about cybernetic augmentation. The purpose for this is to drive change in law to consider these developing technologies in law and policy.

Government/Law/Politics

Legislation often lags behind scientific progress, and as the possibility of cybernetic augmentation has only recently been realized, legislation regarding the matter is rather sparse. However, some does exist regarding the topic, and much more will inevitably come about.

Much of the forefront research on bionics and cybernetic augmentation is being done by government-funded entities, namely DARPA. DARPA, the research division of the Department of Defense, has been leading research on prosthetics for years, the program accelerating due to limb loss among soldiers due to IEDs in conflicts in the Middle East. In 2006, DARPA launched the Revolutionizing Prosthetics program, which developed upper-body prosthetics, as well as foraying into the field of brain-controlled prosthesis. Furthermore, DARPA leads research into brain-computer interfaces, a key part of the division’s Neuro-FAST program. Additionally, DARPA runs the Restoring Active Memory (RAM) program. The purpose of this program, according to the DARPA website, is  “to develop and test an implantable neural device for human clinical use to restore specific types or attributes of memories to individuals with memory deficits.” Through research divisions such as DARPA, NASA, and others, the government is speeding the growth of bionic and cybernetic technologies, though it still remains in the hands of lawmakers whether or not these developments will be legal at all, let alone to the general public.
Information from http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/DSO/Programs/

In the case Sutton v. Unites Air Lines, Inc. in 1999, the Supreme court held that courts must take mitigating measures, such as prostheses or corrective measures such as eyeglasses, into account when determining if one was disabled. The decision marked a movement in the court system to take enhancements to the human body — in this case, eyeglasses, admittedly an augmentation facing little or no questioning as to its ethical or social implications — into consideration in a court of law. This was a positive development for the field of cybernetic augmentation, because it demonstrated that the courts were willing to accept augmentation as a viable legal subject, as well as to assert that augmentation was a viable practice for correcting disability. While the court decision does not go beyond the topic of correction into that of enhancement, it marked a shift in the court’s stance on bionics.

However, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 was a major step backwards, overturning the decision reached in Sutton v. United Air Lines. The law claims that one is considered disabled with only a record of disability, therefore making one unable to legally lose their status as disabled through augmentation. Furthermore, this was a step backwards in accepting augmentation legally, as it ignores the effect on cybernetic augmentation to fundamentally change the way a person interacts with the world around them. If the courts cannot accept that a person with corrected vision is not disabled, then the hopes for courts accepting that someone with prosthetic limbs are not disabled are slim. Furthermore, if courts refuse to accept even augmentations for correction, then the hopes for positive government action regarding the support of cybernetic augmentation for enhancement are yet slimmer.

 

Even while the government funds some of the most cutting-edge research on bionics and cybernetics, lawmakers ignore or impede the growth of cybernetic augmentation. Currently, those who construct augmentations for personal use must install these devices without the aid of anesthetics, as that would make it a medical procedure, and therefore illegal by one without a license. However, this sort of situation is not being considered by lawmakers. With the prospect of a growing population of people who choose to augment themselves, the government will eventually be forced to take action. While completely prohibiting or giving free reign to cybernetics and bionics certainly is a possibility, most likely the government will choose to create ponderous boards, regulations, and committees on the topic, slowing the advance of science for bureaucratic interests.

Universal Truths

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Charles Darwin

No matter how suited one becomes to their environment, whether a fish to the ocean or a corporate wage-earner to their task of filling out spreadsheets, once one’s environment changes, those adaptations become obsolete. Therefore, the most adapted to their environment, the “strongest or the most intelligent,” are not necessarily the ones who will survive. Those that will survive are the ones who can adapt best to changing conditions. Those who argue against cybernetic augmentation may argue that mankind is suited to our environment, and does not require any sort of change. However, it does not matter how fit humankind may be as of now. Conditions on Earth could change, leaving humans who refuse to adapt to their conditions suddenly unfit. Moreover, in order to expand into new environments, such as the infinite frontier of space, humans need to be able to adapt. Cybernetic augmentation provides a method for humans to enhance their capabilities or adapt to the unique challenges offered by life in space, underwater, or any manner of environments currently denied to humans.

“Meddling is what we do. It’s what defines us. Meddling gave us fire and tools and civilisation and the keys to the universe. Fingers will get burnt along the way, yes. That’s the way of it.”
― Alastair Reynolds, On the Steel Breeze

Many reject cybernetic augmentation on the basis that humans have no right to be meddling with what they claim is God’s design. However, “meddling is what we do,” and has resulted in the great accomplishments of human history. If one is unwilling to change what currently exists, then one can never move forward. It takes someone to decide to meddle, to change what already works, in the never-ending quest for knowledge and optimization. While changing what works may result in negative effects, those risks are necessary in order for progress. Those who argue against cybernetic augmentation certainly have justifiable arguments. It is an unknown technology, and any amount of problems could arise through its use. However, if one is too afraid to try to break new ground, and expand humanity’s knowledge, civilization will stagnate. For the sake of scientific knowledge, technological prowess, and to sate the human desire to strive for perfection, cybernetic augmentation should be embraced.

“Charles Darwin Quotes.” Charles Darwin Quotes (Author of The Origin of Species). N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. <http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/12793.Charles_Darwin&gt;.”Alastair Reynolds.” Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. <http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51204.Alastair_Reynolds&gt;.

Opinion

While in our own community, there is not much debate over cybernetic augmentation, the topic has found a small but fervent group of supporters and detractors online.

Some oppose cybernetic augmentation on religious grounds: the human body is created by God, and therefore it is blasphemous for humans to modify it, to correct God’s work. Others argue that cybernetic augmentation will lead to discrimination, both of discrimination by baseline humans against cyborgs, and cyborgs against those without augmentation. Additionally, some are concerned that cybernetic augmentation will heighten the disparity between socioeconomic classes, as augmentations would be expensive, therefore preventing the poor from obtaining them. Still others view it as nothing more than high-tech eugenics.

Despite the opposition, cybernetic augmentation has a strong group of supporters. They argue that the human body belongs to the individual, and that each individual should have the right to make changes to their own body if they so desire. After all, if one does not have the rights to even their own body, what rights do they have? Furthermore, they view cybernetic augmentation favorably through the lens of transhumanism, the movement founded around the belief that humankind can surpass its biological limits through technology, becoming a physiologically superior organism. The human body is rather limited in its abilities, but by incorporating technology into the human body, the realm of possibilities is near endless.

The arguments for and against cybernetic augmentation both have their respective merits. Though, personally, I am entirely in the camp that supports the practice.

The body belongs to the person, and they have the right to do what they wish with it, so long as by doing so, they do not infringe on the rights of others. Therefore, I support regulation of augmentations that would violate the privacy of others, as well as those explicitly designed as weapons, while allowing for those augmentations that would enhance the user, without impeding another.

The arguments against cybernetic augmentation citing discrimination and rising disparity gaps certainly have truth to them. However, if one were to ban every object or custom that caused discrimination or disparity, there would be nothing left. To ban cybernetic augmentation for the sake of preventing discrimination is akin to banning one from having a religion, on the grounds that they may be persecuted for it. And, short of banning the concept of ownership, nothing will prevent there from being disparity in wealth or status. Disparity and discrimination will exist for as long as humankind does. Banning cybernetic augmentation will do nothing to change that fact.

Is cybernetic augmentation eugenics? In the sense that cybernetic augmentation has the potential to improve the physiological and cognitive abilities of the human race, then yes. In the sense that people will be forcibly sterilized or killed, no. Choosing to augment oneself is a personal choice, and should not be forced upon anyone. Those who would outlaw cybernetic augmentation are forcing their own will upon others, preventing them from doing as they wish with their bodies, while those who augment themselves force nothing upon others. The push against cybernetic augmentation is driven by Luddites who fear the future, and claw futilely at any progress in order to keep the world from moving beyond what they, in their narrow-mindedness, know and think of as safe. To make improvements, one has to push the boundaries of the unknown. Clinging to the past will get us nowhere.

One may argue that humans are well adapted to life on Earth, and have no need for such improvements. Again, this viewpoint is almost laughable in its narrow-mindedness. Humans are adapted to life on Earth, yes, but there is so much more out there. Currently, long-distance spaceflight, even interplanetary travel, poses too many risks for a baseline human. Even the background radiation alone is enough to kill or cause cancer in humans, once outside of the protective magnetosphere. Earth has a finite amount of space and resources, and these will be strained by growing populations. Without expanding beyond the constraints of this insignificant rock, the human race will exhaust its available resources and perish. However, enhance the capabilities of the human body, and escaping this gravity well to the infinite expanse beyond becomes all the more feasible.

If one does not wish to expand their horizons, becoming a cyborg or posthuman with enhanced abilities, one is fully within one’s rights to remain a baseline human. However, one should not impede the progress of those who wish to push the boundary and become greater than mere biology would ever allow.

Technology

I Listen to Color. Perf. Neil Harbisson. TED Talks. TED, July 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_harbisson_i_listen_to_color.html&gt;.

In the TED talk I Listen to Color, Neil Harbisson speaks of his cybernetic augmentation. Harbisson was born with achromatopsia, meaning that he was entirely colorblind. However, in 2003, he began working in conjunction with a cyberneticist to develop an electronic eye, which connects to his brain, allowing him to hear different frequencies of light. While the process was disorienting at first, Harbisson grew accustomed to it, saying that once he began to dream with the frequencies present, “that’s when I started to feel like a cyborg. It’s when I started to feel that the cybernetic device was no longer a device. It had become a part of my body, an extension of my senses, and after some time, it even became a part of my official image.” Rather than just using cybernetics to make up for a disability, Harbisson took it a step further, augmenting himself beyond normal human capabilities by enabling his electronic eye to detect both infrared and ultraviolet. As a self-proclaimed cyborg, Harbisson is fully in support of cybernetic augmentation and its benefits, claiming, “I think life will be much more exciting when we stop creating applications for mobile phones and we start creating applications for our own body.”

Social Media Campaigns

http://eyeborg.wix.com/cyborg
Harbisson founded the Cyborg Foundation, an organization with the goal of helping people to become cyborgs, as well as lobbying for cyborg rights. This organization rose from Harbisson’s own experience in becoming a cyborg, especially in lobbying for rights for cyborgs, as well as removing the stigma of cybernetic augmentation.

Current anti-cybernetic-augmentation movements already exist, mainly based on the platform that networked implants will lead to a reduction in privacy. One such movement is the Stop the Cyborgs movement, aimed mostly at Google Glass, which has raised privacy concerns based on its ability to record video footage. While raising some legitimate concerns, movements such as these — in my personal opinion — appear as both bigots and neo-Luddites, who attempt to repress technology and those who embrace it.
http://stopthecyborgs.org/

As cybernetic augmentation is more of a topic of the future than one of the past or present, there are not currently many large-scale campaigns for the rights of cyborgs. However, I predict that more of these campaigns will arise in the near future, as cybernetic augmentation will almost inevitably end up becoming a social issue. The ad campaign for Deus Ex: Human Revolution, demonstrates some of the social issues that may arise from the implementation of cybernetic augmentation into everyday life, such as tension between cyborg and baseline human, as well as possible privacy concerns associated with cybernetic enhancement. using this technology.
http://sarifindustries.com/

Technology

Cybernetic augmentation may sound like something out of science fiction, and indeed it features prominently in many works of science fiction. However, modern science is rapidly increasing the rate of development of such technologies, especially as the conflicts in the Middle East result in many soldiers returning home missing limbs or with similar injuries. These injuries have fueled an extremely rapid advance in prosthetic technology. One advance in the works currently would greatly improve the feasibility of an increased range of cybernetic augmentations: a biological-robotic interface. One of these projects currently in the works is using fiber optic cables to transfer nerve signals into signals that robotic limbs can detect, allowing for the control of artificial limbs just as one would control a natural one.
http://www.livescience.com/8678-fiber-optics-humanize-future-prosthetic-limbs.html

 

Design

“Plastic Surgery Timelines.” Surgery.org. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .

This graphic demonstrates the rapid rise in the popularity of plastic surgery for cosmetic, rather than medical, purposes, with the number of these procedures increasing by sixfold over the last 15 years. The rise in the number of these procedures shows that people are willing to alter their bodies for no reason other than appearance; therefore, it demonstrates that the popularization of cybernetic enhancement is entirely viable. One of the main ethical arguments against cybernetic augmentation is a religious one: that humankind should not change the form that God has created. However, this graphic demonstrates the growing number of people that have no issue altering their bodies. Cybernetic augmentation to improve the functionality of the body, more than just cosmetic improvements, is therefore not so far-fetched an idea.