Two interesting articles on work to replace and upgrade human vision.  To begin, Gizmodo covers research to replace the retina with a micro-camera.  The mission being to replace lost vision with a chip that would record and stimulate the natural optical nerves with a chip. 

The second article, from medGadget, reports on an attempt to embed a visual feed into something as basic as a contact lens.  This would allow for a wide range of use from tourism to combat assistance to gaming, as the feed, if combined with GPS and directional awareness, could be overlayed on what the viewer can see in the moment. This could also have influence on education and psychology by adding/removing visual influences which might cause stress or distraction.

Naturally, once somone’s retina is replaced, it should be simple to include this type of visual overlay.

Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep

Development of a nasal spray containing a natural hormone orexin A, as an effort to offset a variety of situations through which individuals suffer from sleep deprivation.  According to the article, the first application would be for individuals suffering from sleep apnea, but would be tested for soldiers/pilots to allow longer time on duty and could become a popular drug for individuals who work/study for loonger hours.  I can only imagine there would be an immediate consideration for ER doctors and support specialists working after natural disasters, though there is no comment on how this might effect fatigue.

They mention coffee users, who self-medicate as an effort to overcome the effects of poor sleep habits, and this reminds me of the introduction of caffeinated water and reports of how people began to make coffee using this extra source of caffeine.  As such, how soon might orexin A begin to appear in coffee chains, sports drinks and as a “shot” in our smoothie?  But, the combination of orexin A and caffeine may benefit those who require mental and physical lifts, as there is much concern over the use of caffeine in professional/collegiate sports to gain an edge. 

Project Aiko

A project to build an android is taking place in Canada.  Designed to mimic the human ability to feel pain, partially as an effort build limbs to help amputees replace lost tactile function (specifically mentions pain, which is an interested starting point).

Quote from the site “It is my dream to have Aiko be as human-like as possible. I’m not sure
if it is possible, but there is no way to find out unless I try.”

Meets a few of my categories:

Body Alteration: Ability to replace lost body parts.

Intimacy/Recreation: Tactile function at a distance?  Will take teledildonics to new levels.  Bots which are capable of sex, but offer a more human level of interaction, may allow for more fulfilling relationships.

Healing/Psychology: We can only assume prosthetics with the ability to replicate nerve function would allow for more complete recovery for amputees (and possibly to discover methods for individuals with irreversible nerve damage) over time.

Interface: Would this allow us to use robotics to “feel” items at a distance?  Certainly a step up for surgeons operating from a distance and engineers manufacturing technology by hand.

A Human Anti-Aging Pill in Ten Years

Sterling makes some interesting comments leading to this article.  I do believe science will crack the aging process and it will be done ASAP.  In a conversation with friends on the subject, where they claimed it would be wonderful for people and horrible for the planet, I had my own argument on how this will impact humanity.  While it would be wonderful for people to control their lifespans, this will be a controlled substance by government limit if not highly taxed/expensive for the same reason.  We can only support so many people on this planet.  I believe this will lead to a horrible question along the lines of “We can always use 100 year old doctors, but why would we want 100 year old janitors?” As populations increase, there will be a horrible moment where humanity must make a choice between the equal value of everyone and assigning value based on expertise and affluence.

This is one medication which will lead to many instances of social bottlenecks.

Surgically Implanted Bra is Like an External Bra, but With More Horrible Surgery Involved

Basically, a new procedure to place an internal silicon bra with attachments to the ribs in place of an external support.  The thing to understand is that there is a belief that modern bras may restrict mammary blood flow, adding to risk of breast cancer.  Whether there can be an argument for the benefit of this invasive technique, beyond maintaining physical appeal and comfort, will remain to be seen.  I, however, do believe it would be a very popular procedure just on an expectation of maintaining physical attractiveness. 

Artificial bones made with 3D inkjet printers – Via Gizmodo

Pink Tentacle has an article on how researchers at the University of Tokyo are working to print replacement bones using 3D printing techniques.  Current bone replacement is functional, but limited, in allowing people to regain full range of motion and can limit how much impact and strength can be used.  Perhaps we will see a need to get a full body scan to provide accurate template objects for replacing bones if they are injured beyond repair.  Keep them on file for later creation due to injury or age.

On the negative side, will people choose to have bones replaced for vanity or wealth?  Could a slightly shorter sprinter, taking on Usain Bolt, have considered leg-bone replacements as a gamble for greater speed?  Or a basketball player for greater height?  Or a Napoleon complex to overcome their issues? 

On a further extreme, what about an individual who wants their face replaced with a more attractive bone structure?  Seems far-fetched, but possible.  Especially in this time when some of the most beautiful women in the world still feel a need for enhancement.  There will have to be negative possibilities to this positive development, if only to help pay for the R&D costs of getting this procedure approved for medical use.

World’s First Bionic Hand Makes It to Market

Touch Bionics is currently marketing a prosthesis with five individual fingers, each able to act independently.  If I am reading this correctly, the device is picking up the natural impulses and correctly interfacing with the device.  Amazing technology, though I do wonder how it is powered and how long the batteries last.

MIT Finds Cure for Fear

Fascinating article about work on a drug treatment designed to help individuals overcome persistent fear.  Summed up best in these paragraphs (quoted from the site):

In the current research, genetically engineered mice received mild
foot shocks in a certain environment and were re-exposed to the same
environment without the foot shock.

The team found that mice with increased levels of Cdk5 activity had
more trouble letting go of the memory of the foot shock and continued
to freeze in fear.

The reverse was also true: in mice whose Cdk5 activity was
inhibited, the bad memory of the shocks disappeared when the mice
learned that they no longer needed to fear the environment where the
foot shocks had once occurred.

While learning how best to manage this blog, I am slowly learning how to categorize posts.  This article was a challenge and I believe it ranges across many.  I’ll break it down by the categories I selected (and wonder if this might be a good idea going forward):

Body alteration: Could individuals choose to have a permanent body modification which would render them fearless?  Is there a benefit to this?  If so, what are the possible psychological ramifications?  Is fear a necessary part of our mental balance, to the point that a loss of it might effect along the lines of sleep deprivation?

Conflict: Fearless soldiers?  I can imagine Saddam Hussein would have been more than happy to inhibit fear from his soldiers as U.S. troops approached.  It certainly would have hardened their resistance and kept so many from fleeing.  Though, there would have to be a fine balance.  Too much inhibition and the the fight or flight response fails.  Troops no longer suffer the adrenal edge (though there are plenty of chemicals to replace it) and may even lose a natural, and beneficial, intuition to flee, thus stacking up extra casualties.

Faith: I believe one of the greatest benefits of faith is the support needed to overcome fear and anxiety.  If the doctors can use a chemical “seance” to remove the Devil, what need is there for God?

Healing: Is it possible that AIDS and cancer patient, or any person suffering from a possible terminal disease, immune systems suffer from the ongoing fear of death?  Having never suffered from such illness, I can only imagine there is a massive amount of stress inflicted upon the mind and body.  Is it possible a suppression of fear might allow a greater chance of success in overcoming any disease?

Psychology: I think the article speaks to this directly.

Rest and sleep: Linked in with Healing, might a relief from fear allow certain individuals a better ability to recover or just to sleep?

Caucasian Eye for the Asian Gal? | Bodyhack from Wired.com

Body alteration is only going to grow in the coming decades. I assume it will only curtail if we are able to make the changes through genetic influence in such a way it no longer requires a scalpel. Still, it does make me wonder how far we will go to change our physical structure.