Neurohacking III: Do it yourself! Meet the human cyborgs
A cyborg is a being that combines both biological and artificial components.
Typically, this refers to a human or animal whose body has been enhanced or supplemented with technological devices, such as prosthetics, implants, or robotic parts, to improve abilities.
These technological additions can help restore lost functions, enhance performance, or enable entirely new capabilities.
Cyborgs are often depicted in science fiction, but advancements in medical technology are increasingly making them a reality. Meet a couple of them here - they are neurohackers, they are cyborgs, and like most frontrunners they are DYI - Do-it-yourself people.
The first human cyborg - meet Kevin
Neurotechnology began making strides in the late 1998 with Kevin Warwick's chip implant in 1998. This early implant, placed in his arm, gave him the ability to control devices like doors and lights without physical interaction.
By 2002, Warwick took the next step, implanting a second chip that was directly linked to his nervous system. This new chip allowed him to control a wheelchair and robotic arm.
It also enabled him to feel the stimulations from the chip, which became even more personal when he and his wife both had similar chips, allowing them to connect through their devices.
Went and got myself an antenna...
One wild example of neurohacking is Neil Harbisson, a cyborg artist who was born completely colorblind.
In 2004, he underwent a procedure to implant an antenna into his skull, which translates colors into sounds that he perceives through bone conduction.
This device not only partially restores his ability to "see" color but also allows him to hear colors outside the usual human range, such as infrared and ultraviolet light. The antenna, integrates directly into his skull, allowing him to experience a new form of perception.
Harbisson’s journey wasn’t without challenges. He faced rejection from bioethics committees and had to find a doctor willing to perform the procedure discreetly - which he did.
Despite the difficulties, Harbisson’s unique device has opened up a new sensory experience, extending his perception beyond what most people can comprehend.
He managed to restore his ability to percieve color and showcased the potential of merging biology and technology to enhance human capabilities, enabling a person to transcend natural limitations and perceive the world in an entirely different way.
Later on he worked on the Transdental Communication project, where he and his collaborator, Moon Ribas, successfully exchanged messages using morse code through Bluetooth-enabled tooth implants ....
Shake Shake Shake
Moon Ribas, a cyborg artist, is known for creating the Seismic Sense. This unique technology allows her to connect to online seismographs, enabling her to feel earthquakes around the world and even detect movement behind her.
Whenever the Earth shakes, she receives a "vibration" as a reminder that our planet is never quite still. To share this sensation, she transforms these tremors into artistic performances., converting the vibrations into sound and the rhythm of the planet’s quakes into dance.
She’s also able to perceive moonquakes, sensing the seismic activity on the Moon. She envisions a future where we all extend our senses beyond our planet, imagining ourselves as "senstronauts." Ribas grounds herself on Earth, but her senses soar far beyond our planet’s atmosphere.
The "inner compass"
Is often used metaphorically to describe a person's internal sense of direction or guidance. It's the instinctual ability to make decisions, stay aligned with one's values, or follow a personal moral or ethical path.
In a more literal sense, like neurohacking sense, some people use technology to enhance their own "inner compass."
An example, is the devices "North Sense" from Cyborg Nest. It vibrates when the wearer is facing north, are designed to give humans an additional, external way of sensing directions, essentially augmenting one's spatial awareness in a way that some might call a modern "inner compass."
About the scientific paper:
First author: Wessel Teunisse, Austria
Published in: Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies
Link to paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hbe2.179
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