Essay on The History and Future of Cyborgs - 2740 Words

In the latter half of the twentieth century society, culture and science evolved visions and capability around the common prefix ‘cyber’. It took on several virtual, computational, functional, scientific, sexual and criminal connotations. In the 21st Century, many computational notions have been replaced by ‘e’ to mean ‘of computer’ - however ‘cyber’, represented in music, words and films emerging at this time, which communicate the content of culture at the time, not simply technology – have not become ePeople, eMusic or eFilms, but remained postulated in cyberculture. Cark (2004) identifies Manfred Clynes and co-author Nathan Kline as first coining the phrase Cyborg in a story called Cyborgs and Space published in Astronautics†¦show more content†¦Thousands of people (experts and non) have updated, moderated and discussed changes to the entry since it first appeared on the site on 18th October, 2001, demonstrating continuing social negotiation and interpretation of the concept. Also in Wikipedia is reference to the cybernetic scientist Professor Kevin Warwick, one of many involved evolving ‘cybernetic’ research. Warwick received an biotechnological implanted chip in 2002. It was placed is arm, through the skin, allowing him to send data from nerve impulses to a computer by connecting a data cable. To elaborate the Cyborg discussion around limits requires it to be placed inside wider, existing discussion. There are two fundamental perspectives to the debate. The Bioconservatists (social, eithical, cultural, economic) and the Transhumanists (biological science, technology). With very different worldviews. Condorcet (1979) wrote â€Å"man will not become immortal, but cannot the span constant increase between the moment he begins to live and the time when naturally, without illness or accident, he finds life a burden†. Bostrom (2003) suggested in order for humans to evolve, they need to explore the larger space of possible modes of being that is currently inaccessible to them because of their biological limitations. Science fiction offers a world-future redefined by technological evolution. Huxley (1932) describes a dystopia where psychological conditioning,Show MoreRelatedEssay about Cyborgs: a Twisted Double Standard1654 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern phenomenon, nor a vision of the future, as Chislenko suggests. While people have been playing with the images of cyborg future of their bodies, they have overlooked the ongoing process of functional cyborgization they were already taking part in. And this functional cyborgization is on a global scale. Every person on the planet is in someway reliant on technology to perform their daily, necessary functions, from showering to eating. 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