When sci-fi movies imagine cyborgs, they¡¯re usually humans modified to become killing machines or something along those lines.
Instead, technological body modifications are more likely to be the kind that allow people to with medical issues to live normal lives.?
Take Neil Harbisson, the world¡¯s first recognised cyborg. If that photo of him looks weird to you, no it¡¯s not something in the photo blocking his face. That¡¯s an actual antenna implanted into his skull.
The 27-year-old was born with achromatopsia, which causes him to see the world in solely black and white. However, at the age if 21, he co-devised the antenna and implanted it in his head. It works by picking up colours around him through a camera in the prong, and translating that into vibrations transmitted directly into his skull, allowing him to ¡°see¡± the colours.??
Harbisson doesn¡¯t call it wearable technology however, instead he refers to it as a new organ. It seems the UK government also agrees with him, having since added the antenna in his passport, making him the world¡¯s first recognised cyborg.
Image courtesy TED Talks
But the dream doesn¡¯t stop there for Harbisson. He¡¯s a transhumanist activist, basically someone that believes the next stage in human evolution is merging with technology. According to him, it¡¯s come to a point where humans need to design and modify their own bodies to fit their lfestyles and regain what they lack.
Transhumanists believe that changing our environment is a thing of the past. Now, we need to change ourselves.