Are we slowly turning into cyborgs? Part human, part machine!
By Andrew
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
United Kingdom
December 8, 2009 9:24am CST
This is old news now how some people are being fitted with prosthetic limbs, arms, legs etc. However, I notice how things in this field are becoming more and more advanced now! The other day there was an old lady on the news and she had been suffering with cataracts in her eyes. Well, she just received a new lens, her old one was removed and a plastic one was inserted in its place! The thing that is so fanastic about this is the fact that she now has perfect vision. I think the best a person can hope for is 20/20 vision but she now has greater results than this and it's more like a miracle! She's now going to have her other eye done! The thing I have to mention though is the fact that she now has high definition vision as crazy as that sounds! This was mentioned by the optician. So, she's on her way to becoming a fully fledged cyborg! What do you think about this idea? We have pacemakers and all other kinds of things that are being inserted into the body now. I'm all for this if it gives us a better quality of life. When I see these stories on the news I do look at the person in awe when I see them walking around with metal legs, this is the new world that we are living in now! Where will we be in the next ten to twenty years? Andrew
3 people like this
10 responses
@sweetie1026 (1718)
• Philippines
3 Jan 10
I am for it too as long as we humans are under control not the other way around. Yes, it is so good to see people with disabilities being able to live normally again with the help of technology. I think it is awesome but just one thing i want to point out, we should be in control, no matter what. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Andrew. I have not been on here lately. I hope you are doing fine.
1 person likes this
@sweetie1026 (1718)
• Philippines
3 Jan 10
Yes, i did. I had a long and great Christmas vacation and now i am too lazy to report back to work tomorrow. Yes, technology is great as long as it is used to help us humans and not to destroy us. I would love to speak to you soon too. Have a great week ahead!
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
3 Jan 10
Hello sweetie, hope you had a lovely New Year's Eve! Yes, I love the way technology is improving in order to help people with medical conditions and disabilities. There are so many movies that depict machines taking over and it's a frightening prospect but I sometimes wonder whether there can be any truth to this in the future. Anyway, things are fine thanks. It's good to see you back on. I will speak to you soon. Andrew
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
13 Dec 09
Oops! I forgot, silly me. The time when we are all healthier is never going to come. Imagine thousands of people being well; and stronger, fitter, healthier, daily, then soon, medical clinics and doctors surgeries will be for the most part, empty, there will be patients in hospitals and those there by way of accident and injury.
What would the pharmaceutical companies do??? Why, they would probably infect our water or a staple food item some way to ensure that we get sick.
Do you think they will ever find a cure for cancer, diabetes, the common cold? No way!!! There will be too many people out of a job and too many companies going broke if they did.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
13 Dec 09
Right now I suppose those with money have access to this latest technology, sad but true unfortunately! Things may change in time though. That would be a good thing if the way our bodies worked could be changed! I'm sure that this would prevent certain types of diseases grabbing a foothold! Andrew
1 person likes this
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
9 Dec 09
I do not exactly know what a cyborg is but i believe it is part human and part machine which is programmed to act in certain ways by inserting computer chips in their bodies and making then act according to the people who have made it. The examples you have given are not of cyborgs but those are only accessories which have replaced whatever parts of the bodies which people have lost by way of accidents or during wars or disasters.Cataract operations are very common nowadays and very cheap too and many people have got improved eyesight after getting lens planted in their eyes. Pacemakers, artificial limbs, etc are also common nowadays but do not constitute what you call as cyborgs.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
9 Dec 09
Well, a cyborg is part machine and part human tissue! I think that this is the way we are heading in terms of future technology. I'm amazed at what takes place in this field. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Andrew
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
13 Dec 09
"Resistance is futile!"
Jean Luc Picard (aka Patrick Stewart)
Another great quote from our founding - er - funding - oops - fond (?) fathers!
Purrs,
Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
13 Dec 09
Yes, I've heard that before too!. I guess we have to adapt to the changing times! I'm a lover of technology generally and would love to see things greatly improve in order to benefit the human race! Andrew
. I guess we have to adapt to the changing times! I'm a lover of technology generally and would love to see things greatly improve in order to benefit the human race! Andrew
@notlsra (25)
• India
9 Dec 09
well frnd..i believe that being a 'Human' has more to do with the humanlike qualities that we have. What is the use of a fleshy hand that does'nt reach out to help others? or to do any good? Rather a metal limb which is useful not only to the disabled person, but also reaches out to others. SO humanness comes not from our physique itself, but more so from our mind and soul... otherwise we are just plain animals.... No doubt we may turn into 'part' cyborgs as you call it.. but i guess we gotta be more human from within!!!
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
9 Dec 09
Yes, that makes sense! Still, it's important to use the technology if it is available to us. Things are so different now than the way they used to be many years ago! I've seen many fictional films involving cyborgs and some of them have been quite intimidating but as long as this technology is put to good use and in the right hands then I think that things will turn out alright! Andrew. Welcome to My Lot by the way!
@elmare0699 (163)
• South Africa
9 Dec 09
Hi Andrew
All technology is new relative to how old the world is. I had an uncle who had a prosthetic leg and this was in the 70ties, so prosthesis is nothing new, its just getting better as time goes by, just like all other technology, but hopefully it won't get so good that the world gets take over by artificial intelligence.
I also believe that God has brought this knowledge to those who practice it to help people in need, but as always there will be those who will misuse it. All we can ask for is that the bad guys get caught before to much damage is done and that this technology helps all those in real need.
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
9 Dec 09
Yes, technology is a wonderful thing when it can be utilised to help others. I don't know what it's like to lose a limb but it must be horrendus and traumatic at the time! I think there will be some very interesting times ahead in terms of new technology being introduced to the marketplace! Andrew
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
9 Dec 09
Well, you never know? I think that with all of the improvements in technology and bionics, we could be cyborgs if the technology gets to that point.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
9 Dec 09
Great stuff! I'm really excited about the future! It's just amazing how we are moving forward in leaps and bounds! Thanks for your thoughts. Andrew
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 09
Well, technology is definitely becoming more and more advanced in this field and I guess there is a tendency to get carried away with it all however, as long as this technology is used for the benefit of the human race then I think it is appropriate. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Andrew
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
8 Dec 09
Hi Andrew, all I know about this is what I see. I have a friend round about my age who lost his hand and arm up to the elbow when he was a young child, in a mincing machine. He has no prosthetic limb, just a stump, and it still troubles him now and needs further work. Tragically an acqaintance in the village in his early thirties lost his leg in a motorbike accident this June. He was drove here yesterday. Whatever prosthetic device they've fitted is allowing him to get on with his life and I think that's fantastic as he could have seen it as life being over.
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 09
Hello thea, nice to hear from you again. That sounds like a horrendus experience that your friend suffered. I'm sure that technology will constantly improve in this area and this can only be a good thing. I think that it's truly amazing in relation to what this woman had done regaring having a new lens implanted at the back of her eye! She was absolutely ecstatic about it. I guess these options should be considered as a last resort though and should not be available to the general population who are able bodied and have no need of such things. Well, take care thea and I will speak to you again soon. Andrew
@greenfeathers (1206)
• United States
8 Dec 09
Its a two sided coin..I can understand the want to have, for instance, mobility after one loses a limb or better eyesight. Those are aspects of our lives that we obviously become quite dependant upon and without them we might question the value of our lives from our old perspective..and, as such, am more willing to accept the choices made..
The flip side, as always, is the abuse of such things..as in a military format and how the military might turn this cyborg of sci-fi into a real life weapon. We can pretty much guess at how that option would proceed..And once such options dribbled to the underground/blackmarket economy, how that would further effect us all..
For mine, its a fascinating thing..And I don't disregard God in this. Afterall, we are all made '..in the image and likeness..' and as God created, so too do we within the limitations we have. I guess I need just have faith that, perhaps, something as this can be used only for personal and social good rather than drifting to the nether side of it..
Enjoy!
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 09
I guess there will always be a risk that this technology will fall into the wrong hands and crazy experiments may start taking place! I guess balance is the key word here! It must be hugely traumatic to lose a limb and then have to rely on prosthetic alternatives. However, I'm thinking that life may be made that much easier as a result of this technology which is still at it's early stage I think! Andrew
