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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

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?

ccallebs 11y ago
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.
labster 11y ago
Yes, I too am looking forward to the day when perfectly healthy people will become paraplegic from solar flares.
- vkou 11y ago
  Or bugs in over-the-air firmware updates.
  - contingencies 11y ago
    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.
Pfhreak 11y ago
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?
- nsxwolf 11y ago
  I think a lot of people would have an instinctual aversion to removing their natural limbs without some dire medical need. I certainly wouldn't do it. If I could get similar performance gains by slipping on some kind of exoskeletal enhancements, I'd much rather do that.
  - Pfhreak 11y ago
    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.
cwe 11y ago
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...
- mhb 11y ago
  If you're a drummer: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/02/18/scientists-created-a-three-armed-cyborg-to-play-the-drums-like-no-human-can/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/02/1...
melling 11y ago
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?
- drcross 11y ago
  "The unexamined life is not worth living"-Socrates
  - melling 11y ago
    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
agumonkey 11y ago
And then think about the questions it brings about the self, identity. Even the mind.
- melling 11y ago
  Yes, I'm thinking those deep thoughts too.
atomic_cheese 11y ago
Absolutely. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd happily switch to a GiTS-style full-body prosthetic if they were available.
- viraptor 11y ago
  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.

ccallebs 11y ago

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.

labster 11y ago

Yes, I too am looking forward to the day when perfectly healthy people will become paraplegic from solar flares.

vkou 11y ago
Or bugs in over-the-air firmware updates.
- contingencies 11y ago
  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.

Pfhreak 11y ago

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?

nsxwolf 11y ago
I think a lot of people would have an instinctual aversion to removing their natural limbs without some dire medical need. I certainly wouldn't do it. If I could get similar performance gains by slipping on some kind of exoskeletal enhancements, I'd much rather do that.
- Pfhreak 11y ago
  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.

cwe 11y ago

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...

mhb 11y ago
If you're a drummer: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/02/18/scientists-created-a-three-armed-cyborg-to-play-the-drums-like-no-human-can/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/02/1...

melling 11y ago

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?

drcross 11y ago
"The unexamined life is not worth living"-Socrates
- melling 11y ago
  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

agumonkey 11y ago

And then think about the questions it brings about the self, identity. Even the mind.

melling 11y ago
Yes, I'm thinking those deep thoughts too.

atomic_cheese 11y ago

Absolutely. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd happily switch to a GiTS-style full-body prosthetic if they were available.

viraptor 11y ago
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.