the future of human augmentation v2
DESCRIPTION
Presentation of the technologies, trends, and issues around Human Augmentation given at a college in Michigan on October 28, 2010TRANSCRIPT
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”?
What do we mean by ‘Augmentation”?
The Borg?The Borg?
What do we mean by ‘Augmentation”?
Superhumans?Superhumans?
What do we mean by ‘Augmentation”?
Extended Capabilities?Extended Capabilities?
What do we mean by ‘Augmentation”?
√ 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
Nanoscale Engineering + Biotechnology + Neurotechnology
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
Nanoscale Engineering + Biotechnology + Neurotechnology
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
Nanoscale Engineering + Biotechnology + Neurotechnology
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’
Nanoscale Engineering + Biotechnology + Neurotechnology
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