Mechanical analog computers had their origins in Naval Gunnery in World War I […] mechanical analog computers remained of considerable military importance certainly until well into the 1960s and have only been superseded by digital computing systems in the 1970s.
Natural Born Cyborgs
Natural Born Cyborgs
Human!
We used to be exactly like them… Flawed, Weak, Organic
But we evolved to include the synthetic
Now we use both to attain perfection
The Borg
Manuel and Sandra are talking about the following article:
Scientists Warn of âBleak Cyborg Futureâ From Brain-Computer Interfaces
In this post :
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- Nandu Vasudevan from Pixabay
- Cottonbro from Pexels
- Nandu Vasudevan from Pixabay
In this post the dialogue is realised by an interaction of virtual characters, for more information please check the page “Virtual characters“
Sandra
It may sound very apocalyptic, but it is a very remote possibility.  Â
Sandra
And yet something that we have to think about before it is too late.
Manuel
Absolutely! We do want policies in place for how things should be used.
Sandra
Right, and thatâs why we collaborated not just with engineers and programmes, but with doctors, patients, ethicists, etc.
Manuel
Sounds like a very good idea. Still: are you a cyborg when you have an IMD? đ
Sandra
Wow, thatâs quite the question! Iâm not sure, it seems like a gradual thing …
Manuel
Gradual? What do you mean? đ€
Sandra
Well, âcyborgâ sounds like youâre half a robot, not a natural human anymore.
Sandra
But we do so many other things that arenât, you know, âbiologicallyâ natural
Manuel
Like, … wearing clothes? Unlike animals? đ
Sandra
Yeah, maybe that is how it started, but think of everything else too: fire, tool use, building houses, etc.
Sandra
and then specifically changing our bodies. Wouldnât every medical intervention make you âunnaturalâ then?
Manuel
There actually are some religions that suggest stuff like that …
Sandra
I know, but thatâs not how I feel. Am I a cyborg for wearing glasses? Wearing contacts? Getting eye surgery? đ€
Manuel
I see what you mean with âgradualâ now …
Sandra
Itâs not like a BCI or IMD takes over, it modifies who you are and how you act, just like a pill, or a glass of wineÂ
Manuel
So, itâs more subtle than that
Sandra
Exactly. Itâs not like a pacemaker or a BCI turn you into a robot, in a sense it is not unlike any other tool, but now it is part of your body.Â
Manuel
And because it changes what you can do, it is of ethical concern?
Sandra
Yes, anything that restores our capacity for action or gives us new options, raises ethical issuesÂ
Manuel
Thank you so much! This has been very helpful! đ
⊠Continue to read the conversation between Manuel and Sandra on Saturday 23th OctoberâŠ
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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