Technological upgrades of body and mind soon to be a reality — but only for the very rich

[DetlefK]

1. Of course. There will be cyborgs around before 2020.

We have fantastic sensors that can read neural signals when they are attached to skin.

We have made great stride in robotics engineering.

We are making great progress in miniaturization: A norwegian company can produce data-storage as thin as paper.

We are making great progress in flexibility: With organic electronics we can print electronic circuits on a flexible substrate.



In the beginning, the machine (from greek "mechos" = tool) was separate from the human: We crafted and discarded it as we saw fit.

Then it moved into our houses.

Then it moved into our pockets.

Then it moved into our clothes: Baby-clothes with medical sensors are commercially available.

Next step will be the machine moving into our body: Bionic replacements exist, but they are not very good yet.

And the step after that will be the machine moving into our mind: There are successful experiments of electronic brain-to-brain-communication.