Would you become a cyborg?

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mdf

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#180692 18-Sep-2015 08:12

I'm a sci-fi fan - probably not the only one on these forums. I've just been reading a series which I won't name (spoilers) where one of the main themes is the antagonists have "given up their humanity" by embracing technology and turning themselves into cyborgs - neural shunts, robotic prostheses, deformed biological bodies etc. The story's protagonists spend some time thinking how horrible it all is. It's not a unique theme (Dune certainly springs to mind).

Personally though I had far more sympathy for the antagonists. I'd be one of the first in the line to sign up for cyborgification which sounded like a totally practical (and awesome) solution to the issues facing the antagonists.

Am I weird in thinking this way? Would you install robotics in yourself? Where do you draw the line of acceptable "enhancement"?

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#1389473 18-Sep-2015 08:13

Na. Hoomans are best.

kotuku4

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#1389490 18-Sep-2015 08:23

Some people are now, aren't they. With smart phones glued to themselves all waking hours, ear sets, watches etc. Busy in cyber space, ignoring all else around them.

networkn

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#1389497 18-Sep-2015 08:28

About the only thing I'd love to have is a way to get information into the brain by SD Card. So If I want to learn x topic, insert card, import data, KNOWLEDGE!

The rest of it's just creepy.

Inphinity

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#1389498 18-Sep-2015 08:31

As with anything, I'd weigh up the pros and cons of the specific action. Lost use of a hand in an accident, and can get a cybernetic one (like Luke's, for example)? Sounds good to me. Adding stuff in just to look cool? No, probably not. Getting bits that provide some sort of health benefit, without particularly negative side effects? Quite possibly. I don't think there's a blanket answer.

andrew027

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#1389507 18-Sep-2015 08:43

Without knowing what "the issues facing the antagonists" are, I'd probably be fine with some level of enhancement if it was necessary, e.g. if I needed it to overcome a physical disability or environmental condition. I don't know that I'd be lining up for parts just because it was possible.

For me, the interesting phrases in the OP is "deformed biological bodies". I don't think I'd go for the enhancements if the option was replacing my crippled legs with, say, the rear end of a robotic spider. Do we, as humans, have some kind of built in preference for our own upright bipedal form, or is that just an extension of existing prejudices, e.g. racism?

Batman

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#1389519 18-Sep-2015 08:59

Paul1977

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#1389526 18-Sep-2015 09:07

What book series is it? Doesn't sound like you've spoiled anything about it - antagonists are cyborgs, protagonists think it's icky.

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kotuku4

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#1389528 18-Sep-2015 09:17

Hummm do you need to clone yourself first as a backup and keep in cryostasis?
Then who decides when to kill off the buggy version and use the backup?

Or will Cyberdyne Systems Skynet take over long before that point anyway?

Rickles

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#1389531 18-Sep-2015 09:19

Who has been watching "Humans" on TV 3?

nzkc

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#1389561 18-Sep-2015 09:42

We already have plenty of cyborgs in society today. We just dont view them as such. Anyone with a pacemaker or cochlear implant is (technically*) a cyborg.

Yes I would happily become a cyborg if it improved my quality of life.

*see what I did there? ;)

mdf

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#1389562 18-Sep-2015 09:43

So what you're all saying is yes, yes I am wierd. ;)

networkn: About the only thing I'd love to have is a way to get information into the brain by SD Card. So If I want to learn x topic, insert card, import data, KNOWLEDGE!

The rest of it's just creepy.

I will give good odds that whoever manages to commercialise this first will also come up with some screwy proprietary format. SecureCompactMediaCardStickPro.

Paul1977: What book series is it? Doesn't sound like you've spoiled anything about it - antagonists are cyborgs, protagonists think it's icky.

It's one of those series where the author drip feeds information about the antagonists. You don't find out about their cyborginess until about 2/3 of the way through book 2. And even after we find out about the big reveal you get about 5 other point of view characters until he comes back and explains this. Does lend itself for a reasonable hook though, and at least he didn't leave it as a cliffhanger ending for the next one.

andrew027: For me, the interesting phrases in the OP is "deformed biological bodies". I don't think I'd go for the enhancements if the option was replacing my crippled legs with, say, the rear end of a robotic spider. Do we, as humans, have some kind of built in preference for our own upright bipedal form, or is that just an extension of existing prejudices, e.g. racism?

Interesting point. This particular one had a little bit of the Matrix about it. The biological forms were deformed due to environmental factors. The solution was to hold the biological form in a capsule/cryostasis with the consciousness transferred to various cybernetic forms (which weren't necessarily humanoid). Somehow the temporariness of this didn't creep me out, but you're right, if it was grafted on to the "real" me I'd feel comfortable with something relatively humanoid but wouldn't want to be Arachne/a drider.

afe66

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#1389608 18-Sep-2015 11:11

I'd wait til version 3 of cybersoft os is released first.

Rickles

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#1389610 18-Sep-2015 11:17

"We are the Borg. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile."

BlueShift

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#1389679 18-Sep-2015 13:29

This is something that ethicists have been considering for a while now. Up until now(ish) prosthetics have been mostly second-best, a step down from the biological original, but necessary if the original is missing for whatever reason. We are reaching the point where prosthetics can become an improvement on the originals. We are there already in some limited cases - Oscar Pistorius is faster with his fake legs than he would have been if he had organic limbs. In theory, Usain Bolt could get his legs amputated at the knee and beat his records (after some adjustment of course) largely due to the blade prosthetics weighing a lot less than standard meat-legs. Of course Pistorius's blade legs aren't as adaptable as meat-legs, and have a stack of other drawbacks.
What happens when a cochlear implant or even a standard hearing aid becomes superior to unassisted natural hearing? Allowing one to hear dog-whistles, and appreciate a greater range and depth in orchestral music? If and when unimpaired people start upgrading themselves, then the cyborg revolution will have begun.

I mean, what child of the 70s wouldn't want Steve Austin's bionic eyes and slow motion speed running?

ubergeeknz

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#1389681 18-Sep-2015 13:35

If enhancements become available and are truly enhancements, why not? Anything from genome modification to implants to replacement parts, I have no problem with it. Bring on the future I say.

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