the future of human augmentation v2

The Future of Human Augmentation

Joe Dvorak, [email protected]

The Discussion

• What do we mean by ‘Augmentation’?

• What Are the Technology Trends?

• What are the Social Issues?

• Q&A

What do we mean by ‘Augmentation”?


The Borg?The Borg?


Superhumans?Superhumans?


Extended Capabilities?Extended Capabilities?


√ Compensating for missing/injured capabilities

√ Markedly improved traits and abilities

√ Longer AND better life√ Improvement of the Human

gene pool

The Dimensions of Human Augmentation

Artificial

Natural

MindBody

Silicon – Tissue IF

Brain - Computer IF

Cognitive Enhancement DrugsImplants

Intelligent Prostheses

Exoskeletons

Genetic Engineering

Gene Therapy

Transplants

Tissue EngineeringTissue Engineering

Evolution

Genetic Engineering

Gene Therapy

Silicon – Tissue IF

Brain - Computer IF

Evolution

The Technologies of Human Augmentation

The Technologies of Human Augmentation

In the Beginning We Had What We Were Born With

Medicine and technology were concerned with Healing

Now Many Parts of our Bodies Have Artificial Replacements

ARM

KNEE

ANKLE

BONES

BLADDER

LEG

… And More Are Coming

Cognitive Enhancement Drugs

Artificial Spleen

Artificial Blood

Artificial Pancreas

Medicine and technology will now be concerned with Enhancing

The Hu Si Interface

• The Human Silicon Interface

• Interfacing silicon chips directly to human tissue– Nerve cells– Muscle cells

– Memory chips– Processor

brain-computer-interface

Nerve chip

Cheetah prosthesis

Nanoscale Engineering + Biotechnology + Neurotechnology

to

The Hu Si Interface

• Artificial eyes using arrays of CCD sensors to bypass damaged optic nerve

• Contact lens with embedded LED display

• Prostheses controlled by brain activity

• Prostheses that provide world class speed, strength

Thought powered arm Cheetah prosthesis


Contact Lens Display System

Next-Generation Retinal Implant

The Hu Si Interface

• Peter Warwick• Implanted chip

connected to radio xmitter and forearm nerves

• Can control robot arm by moving his own

• Wife has similar chip

• Can control his arm by her arm movement

Cheetah prosthesis


Kevin Warwick, a professor at the University of Reading in England

The Hu Si Interface

• Produces computer and sensor enabled prostheses

• Created first active powered ankle


Biomechatronics Lab, MIT Media Lab

Prof. Hugh Herr, Director

Active Powered Ankle

The Hu Si Interface

• Prof Herr lost both lower legs in a rock climbing accident

• Now uses prostheses developed by his lab

• Can climb better that before the accident

• Lab is developing artificial muscles

• Future prostheses will contain many sensors sending tactile information to the brain

• ‘Walk on the beach and feel the sand between my artificial toes’


Body, Heal Thyself: Tissue Engineering

Kidney

Heart

Bone

Muscles

Finger

Cartilage

Ear

Heart Valve

Intestine

Skin

Nose

Liver

Self Sustaining Augmentation: Genetic Engineering

The red areas show bone marrow cells that received a corrective gene in a Spanish patient who underwent gene therapy using the lentivirus to fight a terminal brain disorder

A microscopic look at a lab dish whose contents are derived from human embryonic stem cells

• Using viruses as transports we can add new or modified genes to human cells

• Individual genes can be turned on or off• Changes are passed onto offspring• Human gene pool is altered

• Using viruses as transports we can add new or modified genes to human cells

• Individual genes can be turned on or off• Changes are passed onto offspring• Human gene pool is altered

Self Sustaining Augmentation: Genetic Engineering

• Stem cells can become any type of cell

• Have the potential to treat or cure many types of diseases

• Their full potential is still being discovered

Cognitive Enhancement

9 April 2008, Nature

IEET Apr 22, 2007

• ‘Smart drugs’ are being developed to enhance cognitive abilities

• Memory, concentration, reasoning improvement are some of the potential benefits

• Alzheimer's, dementia, schizophrenia, and other mental impairments could be treated

• Many people are in favor of their routine use

Brain – Computer Interfaces

• Attaching sensors onto or directly above areas of the brain detects signals from brain activity

• Signals are analyzed and correlated with specific activity

• Those signals are sent to another computer to effect action and perform tasks without requiring the use of our limbs

• Can be used by quadriplegics to perform many daily tasks

• Was highly invasive

Brain – Computer Interfaces

• Brain – Computer Interfaces now are much less invasive

• Caps and helmets are used– Not quite as good

signal detection as with direct brain contact

– Better, more powerful processing helps

• Recently used to control the Honda robot Asimo

Personal Devices Incorporate High Levels of User Awareness and Intelligence

• Smartphones incorporating many sensors

• Can provide a window into our health status, feelings, and warn us of oncoming conditions

• Can aid our memory using location and context based reminders

• Can provide alerts to sight impaired of oncoming traffic, light changes, etc

• Can manage our moods

Personal Devices Incorporate High Levels of User Awareness and Intelligence

CyberTwin

• With the personal knowledge, sensing, and activities, people will develop a symbiotic relationship with their personal mobile device

• These devices could be with people most of their life and develop an intimate knowledge of the user

• Can compensate for diminishing capabilities in later life

Social Issues of Human Augmentation

Human Augmentation Activities Driving Social Issues

• Extending Normal Lifespan

• Enhancing Traits/Capabilities

• Enhancing/Improving the Gene Pool

Common Objections

• It will create a ‘Biological Divide’

• It is inherently too dangerous; we will never know enough to do it safely

• Conflicts with religious teachings

• It Violates the Natural Order of Things

• It will be an ecological and social disaster

“It will create/expand the ‘Biological Divide’”

‘Ordinaries’ ‘Augments’

Faster, Stronger, Smarter, Healthier

‘Normal’, Empathetic

• A vocabulary has arisen describing the ‘Biological Divide’– Augments: those

utilizing the technologies of Human Augmentation

– Ordinaries: those who do not

• The big question: Can the Ordinaries compete with the Augments?

“It Is Inherently Too Dangerous; We Will Never Know Enough To Do It Safely”

Why the Future Does Not Need Us – Bill Joy, Wired 8/2007

• Biological, Chemical, Nuclear dangers have been with us for a while

• Nanotechnology dangers are new– Inability to control

the actions and consequences of nano-machines

• Will require new research, regulations, and caution

• Will the danger outweigh the benefits?

“It Conflicts with Religious Teachings”

In Vitro Fertilization

Birth Control

Earth Centered Universe

Interracial Marriage

• These are all activities many religions did or still disapprove of

• 2 million babies born by in Vitro Fertilization

• Most child bearing age couples use some form of birth control

• Interracial marriage is now common

“It Conflicts with Religious Teachings”

Most religions and their teachings were formulated at a time when the origin of life, the workings of the body, and the nature of the stars and planets were poorly understood

In Vitro Fertilization

Birth Control

Earth Centered Universe

Interpretations of some religious teachings often evolve over time Interracial Marriage

“It Violates the Natural Order of Things”

Heart Transplant

ARM

KNEE

ANKLE

BONES

BLADDER

LEG

Face Transplant

What is ‘The Natural Order’?It Keeps Changing as We Advance

• When first done, heart transplants were considered ‘unnatural’and ‘playing god’– Now uncontroversial

• Face transplants will follow a similar trajectory

It Will Be an Ecological and Social Disaster

• Mortality from most major diseases has been decreasing• Global growth rate has started to slow

– However, population is still growing• Natural resources (oil, water, forests, etc) are finite• What will be the effect of significantly extending life

spans?

It Will Be an Ecological and Social Disaster

Declining Death Rates

Finite Resources

Decreased Economic Mobility

Economic Disparity

Decreasing Health Costs

Extended Productivity??

• Jury is still out– Adverse effects could be reduced by positive effects

• Extending life to 120 yrs would add only 6% to world population in 30 years

• All areas of human endeavor would be impacted– Arts, science, economics, humanities, etc

So What is the Future of Human Augmentation Over the Next Several

Decades?

We Cannot Be Sure.But Here Are Some

Good Bets

Barring Some Major Disruptors …Barring Some Major Disruptors …

Good Bet: Technology Will Continue to Advance

Continuing Rapid Increase in Information/Communication Technology

Journal of Evolution and Technology. 1998. Vol. 1

Is This Continued Advance Nonsense?

• Graph simply extrapolates razor blades/cartridge in isolation of all other factors

• Rarely a reliable practice• Technology is never developed

in a vacuum– Social and other non

technological effects effect the technology adoption

– Alternative technologies appear to address limitations of the original technology

• These must be considered

Is This Continued Advance Nonsense? Not Really

3D Chips

Optical Computing

• Moore’s law will end in about 20 years– Will reach the atomic level

• But other technologies such as optical computing and 3D chips will allow continued computing power growth

Good Bet: Humans Will Continue To Progress

• Life expectancy will continue to increase• Deaths from most diseases will continue to fall• New diseases will arise and will eventually be treated or

cured• The standard of living in most countries will rise• Knowledge will continue to grow

Good Bet: Human Augmentation Will Be Controversial

• Ethics

• Regulation

• Legislation

• Enforcement

• Education

• Resource Allocation

• Cultural Integration

• Prioritization

Best Bet: It Probably Cannot Be Stopped

Thank YouComments, questions

[email protected]