The recent thread on Ghost in the Shell reminded me of this. It's only a matter of time before technology can build fully functional replacement limbs. This is obviously great for people that rely on prosthetics, but when these new limbs become better than the ones we were born with, are we going to see people having their perfectly working biological parts replaced?
People dangerously modify their body for non-practical reasons already, so I think it's a given. Once technology catches up to science fiction, cyborgs will be a real (and probably common) occurrence. Hell, I would probably do it.
Can I add the arms rather than replace? I often find myself wish I had an extra pair of hands. Or better hands, with two thumbs for example? Or tentacles instead of fingers? This could get very weird...
Why does it matter? Why do you care? Personally, I'd rather learn more about the technology than discuss the science fiction aspects that will happen in 50-200 years.
For example,
"The part of the brain that controls the pinkie and ring fingers overlaps, and most people move the two fingers together," Crone says. "It makes sense that coupling these two fingers improved the accuracy."
I believe the ulnar nerve travels to both of these fingers. How does the part of the brain connect to this nerve. Is this a coincidence?
Next should we talk about what human life will be like when we can live for hundreds of years? Having premature conversations well in advance of the possibility really adds no value.
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay
Absolutely. If that option was available today, I would strongly consider it. Your current biological parts are functionally machines. Pretty dang good ones. But when there's a better one available, why not change out to that machine instead?
That's also true. There's undoubtedly both communities. I didn't mean to imply that everyone, or even a majority would be willing to give up their natural limbs, just that there does exist a population that would gladly do so.
I feel like every time GitS-style full body prostethics are brought up as a happy alternative, people forget all the downsides they came with. Undiagnosed failures (the new movie), privacy invasion (SAC), interface allowing outside hacking (almost all episodes), interference with real memories (AA), etc.
Replacements operated directly and only via the nervous system, with no extra interface - sure. GitS-style body parts - no, thank you.
Or the results of pranksters launching unscheduled firmware 0day-driven, forced opt-in, impeccably synchronized flashmobs of commuter exoskeletons dancing infinite loops of classics like Walk Like an Egyptian or Gangnam Style.
This is pretty cool stuff. However, a problem with this approach is that it ignores the cerebellum. One of the reasons a road-side sobriety tests works is that the cerebellum is very susceptible to alcohol. When the cerebellum is not working well, you get clumsy.
This approach on a large scale would likely result in that type of clumsiness.
