What is Human Augmentation?

It’s no lie that technology has played a huge role in the lives of humans and in recent times we are beginning to see more progress, especially across industries like health, education, transportation, etc.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the 20th of May 2024, cleared the neural link brain chip implant in a second patient. The first implant received by Norland Arbaugh allows him to control a computer using his thoughts.

If you haven’t heard about Neural Link, it is a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk that designs implantable brain-computer interfaces. In simple terms, the neural link chips connect human brains to computers.

The use of technology to enhance human capabilities is what we’ll be discussing in this article. Let’s get started!

Human augmentation or Human 2.0, is a term used to describe the use of technology to enhance human cognitive or physical capabilities. It is achieved using sensing and actuation technologies, fusion and fission of information, and artificial intelligence.

The technology is not recent - it’s said to be as old as human civilization, clearly not as we know it now, but when we look at the past, humans have continually found different ways to improve their abilities.

History shows that a ‘mummy’ found in Cairo which dates back to ancient Egypt had the great toe amputated and replaced with a prosthesis manufactured with leather and wood.

Eyeglasses are also a well-known example of human augmentation - there are many records of the use of glasses. A record shows that the playwright Seneca used a glass lens in the first century AD to magnify words on a page. He used a glass globe filled with water to help enlarge small texts allowing him to read more clearly.

Another record shows that the Italian monks were the first to craft semi-shape ground lenses in the 13th century which worked like a magnifying glass to aid reading. Many records show how glasses evolved over the years in different regions.

This tells us that humans have developed ways to replace or enhance body parts as far as pre-historic periods. Other examples of human augmentation include; hearing aids, medical implants, etc.

In modern times, combining nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science (NBIC) improves human capabilities. For instance;

• Nano science studies structures and molecules, and nanotechnology utilizes it in practical applications like designing and manufacturing small devices.

• Biotechnology involves manipulating biological systems, e.g. tissue, cells, and genetic engineering for repair or enhancement.

• Information technology involves artificial intelligence data analytics, which can be used to create devices that monitor health in real time.

• Cognitive science studies the brain including perception, memory, decision-making, etc.

NBIC technology offers opportunities for human augmentation across various sectors. These advancements provide different types of human augmentation including:

• Sensory (Augmented sensors): This involves using multi-sensory information and technology to enhance human senses. Different devices or techniques are used to improve the natural capabilities of our senses, including touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste, as well as the overall function of sensory organs and connective tissues.

• Action (Augmented Action): This involves sensing human actions and mapping them to actions in local, remote, or virtual environments. E.g. using robotic prosthetics to restore limbs that mimic the movements of natural limbs.

• Cognitive (Augmented Cognition): This involves detecting the human mental state by using analytical tools, interpreting it, and adapting the computer's response to match the predictive needs of the user. AI technologies can augment human cognitive abilities including; decision-making, problem-solving, memory, etc.

Here are a few examples of human augmentation across several industries;

Healthcare: Examples include; wearable devices for monitoring patients in real time, artificial limbs and body parts (prosthetics), etc.

Assistive Technologies: Examples include; brain-computer interfaces, exoskeletons, modern hearing aids with smartphone compatibility, etc.

Haptic-based walking sticks for visually impaired people use ultrasonic sensors, a vibrator motor scheme, a controller, and a power unit inside the walking stick to help them navigate their surroundings, avoiding obstacles.

Performance Technologies: An example is; wearable sensors to monitor athlete movements, which can be used to improve training and prevent or reduce injuries.

Communication: An example is real-time translation devices that aid the seamless translation of languages, breaking the language barrier.

Also, individuals with communication disabilities use BCI (Brain computer interface) to communicate through direct neural interfaces enabling communication between a nervous system and an external device.

The many benefits of human augmentation include;

• Optimized Performance: Human augmentation enables individuals to perform better than usual. For instance, exoskeletons can help individuals with spinal injuries or neurological disorders that impair mobility by providing users with support and aid in correct movement patterns.

• Accessibility Enhancement: People living with disabilities can benefit from this technology, as there are devices that help with mobility, and vision, making their living conditions better.

• Cognitive Enhancement: BCI (Brain Computer Interface) can enhance individuals' attention, problem-solving skills, etc. Also, sensory devices like smart hearing aids can improve hearing, etc.

• Workforce Efficiency: Human augmentation technology like an exoskeleton, which is a wearable device designed to increase endurance and strength in humans, makes it easier for workers to perform labor-intensive tasks requiring heavy lifting.

Equity and Accessibility: Human augmentation technologies may not be accessible to everyone due to cost which causes inequality between people who can afford and those who can’t afford the cost. Other concerns involve availability, strict regulations, and other barriers.

Autonomy and Consent: Human augmentation may require altering the individual's body, brain, or other body parts/ identity. Ethical questions about consent and autonomy arise because different people have their own beliefs and values regarding what is considered acceptable augmentation.

Privacy and Security Concerns: Human Augmentation utilizes data, and the collection and analytics of personal biometric data raises concerns over consent, surveillance, and data misuse.

Human-augmented devices that rely on software have the potential to be hacked, also augmented-devices collect sensitive data like health information and biometric data, which could lead to privacy violations, identity theft, etc.

Physical Harm: Potential physical harm is a concern regarding human-augmented devices. For instance, Implantable devices require surgical procedures that are risky to the individuals involved.

Also, the devices may malfunction, causing harm to their user. There are also long-term health effects, especially if the technology is new and has only been used for a few years. Therefore, understanding the long-term harm may have yet to be realized.

Psychological Effects: Human augmentation changes a person's identity, which may cause individuals to struggle with their new identity and suffer from depression, anxiety, grief, etc.

The world is progressing to the point where technology is being adopted in ways we didn’t think possible - we now have real-life human cyborgs, just like we see in superhero movies.

An example is Cameron Clapp who after losing his limbs after a train accident now has prosthetic arms and legs controlled by his brain with the help of a microprocessor. He has since become an athlete and an amputee activist.

Another example is Dr. Kevin Warwick also known as “Captain Cyborg” who has been experimenting with electronic implants since 1998. He has installed a microchip in his arms to operate lights, heating, and computers remotely.

The future of human augmentation will transform different industries across the world. The capabilities of BCI for instance, can shape how we experience reality, and may even be able to manipulate our perception of reality.

We are in an era where people can access cutting-edge technology - the incoming era of human augmentation technology would provide opportunities to transform physical abilities beyond the norm.

Imagine what the future holds with the advancement of technologies like artificial intelligence, brain-computer interface, and robotics. Who knows? We all would have the opportunity to purchase superpowers soon.

Scientists are pushing the limits of what it means to be human in technology and medicine. It’s exciting thinking of the possibilities and how it can help improve society given that people with disabilities can control computers with their thoughts, or people can enhance their strength by wearing a device, etc.

Yet, it is scary, because there’s a good and bad to everything. As a natural response to innovations and technology, the question is whether the good outweighs the bad or vice versa, and what price do we have to pay as a society for technology?