How do you feel about human augmentation?

[Gingerbread Demon]

Yeah slow down the aging process when humans reach puberty, so an 80 year old human would look about 45 instead. That way humans can live to 200 then die gracefully like Vulcans.

An anti agapic....... Where's Jha'Dur when you need her

 

[arch101]

I have a mechanical aortic valve and a teflon aortic arch, so I've already begun the transition. Given my experience, I'm all for mechanical replacement parts. I assume that if I live to be 100, as I plan (48 now) that I'll have many more artificial parts by the time I'm done.

 

[Qonundrum]

Go for it. Abuse by the fascists has given eugenics a bad name. But implants and prosthetics can smoothen our usage of technology (imagine screens projected on the retina, subcutaneous chips for keys/payment), and genetic engineering can be used to improve body functions and abilities.

It also gives "ID Theft" a shiny new (and equally unwanted) meaning, especially if network connectivity is involved...

 

[Markonian]

It also gives "ID Theft" a shiny new (and equally unwanted) meaning, especially if network connectivity is involved...

Agreed. Don't build backdoors into your system and spike up security.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

It also gives "ID Theft" a shiny new (and equally unwanted) meaning, especially if network connectivity is involved...

Agreed. Don't build backdoors into your system and spike up security.

Yeah but how can you when dickwad politicians want to enact laws where they want to snoop in on encrypted communications (all int the name of fighting terrorism of course) like at the G20 when the topic of intercepting encrypted communications like facebook, IM software and wireless.

 

[Markonian]

Apple, for example, does not build backdoors.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Apple, for example, does not build backdoors.

What? Didn't the FBI try to force that issue a while back?

 

[Mr Soak]

Apple refused, the Kaspersky anti-virus guy offered to break in. FBI and Apple both got what they wanted, as far as I'm aware.

 

[RAMA]

Such things a mentioned in this intro make us conjure up borg-like visuals, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, we'd move well beyond such primitive concepts as infotech and biotechnology advance.

Augmentation is not only inevitable, how far we go will eventually determine our survival as we need to keep eventual human-derived AI on par with machine-derived AI.

This includes artificial limbs, organs or prosthetics that enable people to live a somewhat normal life under ideal circumstances.

How do you feel about the whole notion of artificial parts for the human body that allow it to have functions that were once lost again, or enhance functions that are damaged?

If I lost an arm or leg and could get one that functioned just like the old organic one I'd be fine with that. As it stands I do have prosthetics in the form of two lenses attached permanently to my eyes. Long story short I was born with cataracts and the original lenses were needled. This was 1968ish. Since then I have had to wear very thick and heavy glasses. The implants only came in 2007 and it was only because my optometrist suggested the idea to me in an effort to give me a cosmetic change and improve my appearance.

I haven't improved my vision as it's the same as it was with the heavy glasses but now I don't need those, instead a lighter, thinner pair for distance and slightly thick pair for reading / computer or books and stuff.

So in short I'm all for this kind of stuff.

How do you feel about this kind of stuff?

 

[RAMA]

Discovery finally seems to be correcting this mistake, with AI and augmented humanoids everywhere.

I never understood the anti-augmentation line the Star Trek franchise took, it seems based on a 1960's concept of future medicine that is flawed. I doubt Khan was a megalomaniac because he was augmented, there was nothing augmented about Hitler and other psychopathic historical figures in real life. No one would suggest 'lets ban Austrians and Germans from reproduction just in case another Hitler & Goebbels etc comes along'...that is the weird line that Star Trek takes, lets ban augmented medicine throughout the entire Federation just in case we get another Khan.... Utter nonsense and so Terrancentric!

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Such things a mentioned in this intro make us conjure up borg-like visuals, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, we'd move well beyond such primitive concepts as infotech and biotechnology advance.

Augmentation is not only inevitable, how far we go will eventually determine our survival as we need to keep eventual human-derived AI on par with machine-derived AI.

But what if we have AI as an add on for people to use with their existing brains?

 

[{ Emilia }]

Augmentation is not only inevitable, how far we go will eventually determine our survival as we need to keep eventual human-derived AI on par with machine-derived AI.

How will this determine our survival?
Do you think the ever-elusive "advanced AI" will turn on us?

 

[Kemaiku]

Having synthetic augmentations to humans in order to live implies an infrastructure necessary to build and maintain them. If there is any large scale collapse of industry, millions die from failing parts *as well* as basic starvation etc

Doesn't sound particularly smart to build the equivalent of kill switches into people 'for survival'.

 

[publiusr]

But what if we have AI as an add on for people to use with their existing brains?

I'm of two minds about it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Go for it. Abuse by the fascists has given eugenics a bad name.

And deservedly so.

subcutaneous chips for keys/payment

Oh yeah, I know what THAT sounds like.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Oh yeah, I know what THAT sounds like.

But that would upset you only if you are one of those special religious people.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ You catch on real quick.

 

[Nyotarules]

Discovery finally seems to be correcting this mistake, with AI and augmented humanoids everywhere.

Even GR wrote about them in his novelisation of TMP as New Humans, they existed along with the 'normal' humans.
Only 'normal humans ' joined Starfleet lol

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I was chatting to some folks on FB and they say all this is proving the book of Revelations true. I laughed. Their reasoning that transhumanism and technology integration with the human body is what Satan wants. Ooooh.

 

[RAMA]

I was chatting to some folks on FB and they say all this is proving the book of Revelations true. I laughed. Their reasoning that transhumanism and technology integration with the human body is what Satan wants. Ooooh.

People always invoke religion on both sides of the coin, I really wish we could proceed without it. While there are Singularity proponents who are heavily tied into mystical or new age elements this is not at all where it is derived from. It's scientific/mathematical speculation from a time when we have the means to better predict outcomes, which in itself is a new paradigm.

RAMA