What happens when Cybernetics will exceed the medicine?

Date:

2017-06-07 12:30:07

Views:

3730

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

What happens when Cybernetics will exceed the medicine? Source:

The Era of cyborgs may be closer than we think. Rapid improvement of medical robots, wearable devices and implants means that a lot of people are already half machines, and this trend will only gain momentum. Most notably, in the field of medical prosthetics is a very effective prostheses made of titanium and carbon fiber are gaining popularity. The use of "blades" of the Paralympic athletes, even raised the question of whether or not they give you the advantage over biological limbs.

For decades, myoelectric prosthetics — artificial limb when picking up signals of the muscles, allowing a person to control the device — provided patients with a mechanical replacement of lost limbs.

Now the progress in robotics leads to the appearance of the prosthetic hand, which is closer to the original terms of agility. Michelangelo prosthetic hand is completely flexible and precise enough to perform such tasks as cooking and Ironing.

Scientists have even demonstrated a robotic hand that can feel and be controlled by thought. And just last month, another group of scientists showed that setting a standard myoelectric prosthesis with a camera and a computer vision system allowed him to "see" and to seize objects without having to move a muscle.

Medical exoskeletons are already commercially available — devices such as ReWalk and Ekso Bionics, is designed to help people with spinal cord injuries who are unable to stand and walk. In addition, these technologies are used for rehabilitation of people after stroke or other traumas, providing them with the movement.

Currently, these technologies only serve to those who have lost the ability to move partially or completely, but not always. The pace of development of robotics and artificial intelligence are accelerating, and it's time to start a discussion about the direct application of these technologies in the near future.

Future assistive technology not only compensate for the disability people, but improve human capacity, to lead him beyond our natural level. Associated with this transformational effect will lead to widespread social, political and economic issues.

All of this can already be seen in the development of military exoskeletons designed to improve the endurance of soldiers. Strangely, the Japanese scientists recently proposed the idea to add them to our limbs, not to replace them. The project MetaLimbs provides people two extra limbs that can be controlled using sensors on the feet.

Last week, in the Science of Robotics appeared a study demonstrating that the soft robotic exosuit effectively lightened the load on the runner when not followed a natural pattern of human movements, but instead used a computer modelling for decisions on the application of the force.

This suggests that the machine not only can significantly increase muscle strength, but also to optimize the biomechanics of our movements. And, as noted by the authors, biomechanics — and that's just the research conducted for the sake of reproduction and, finally, improve our abilities.

Devices like the cochlear implants used to restore hearing for many years, and now there is a number of experimental attempts to create bionic eyes that restore sight to the blind. In recent months actively to improve our intellectual abilities through neural implants.

Obviously, it'll be a long time before people will start to demand the amputation of his hand to get a brand new, shiny and robotic. And it is likely that companies that are actively promoting brain-computer interfaces, consumer-grade, overestimate the number of people willing to go through the voluntary brain surgery.

However, we have already taken the first steps towards the unification of our biological "I" with the machines.

It Can be argued that smartphones have become a prosthesis, intended to enhance memory and communication. Others, more candid cybernetic additions may appear in our lives.

What does this mean for humanity? Natural evolution has long relied on mutations that provide short-lived, but significant benefits for the population. If the new technology prosthetics will begin at once to bring these advantages, the effects can be very heterogeneous.

The Main concern is that the newest additions will be available only to the few who can afford them, and in just a few generations, you can be in the elite that will not only surpass the rest of mankind financially, but also physically and cognitively.

At the same time, these technologies strongly promise to restore a decent standard of living of countless people affected by injury or illness. And if they are applied fairly, they will help us to solve many of the problems facing society.

It is Important that the conversation about how to get us through this stage of our evolution, we need to start now. Because until now, these devices were developed primarily for the recovery of lost functions, we miss the fact that they can not only to recover but also to create new ones.

...

Recommended

The coronavirus has mutated into 30 new strains

The coronavirus has mutated into 30 new strains

While coronavirus Apocalypse slowly but inevitably becomes routine, the virus SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. And, unfortunately, he was good at it. Writes , with reference to the South China Morning Post reports that new studies show that the virus ...

In the United States recognized that the ventilator dies 88% of patients with coronavirus

In the United States recognized that the ventilator dies 88% of patients with coronavirus

When the world is raging coronavirus that causes pneumonia and kills people, the only solution is intensive care. If this is not done, the victims will be very much. Today for severe patients there is only one solution — connected to the appara...

Can a transfusion of blood plasma to cure the coronavirus?

Can a transfusion of blood plasma to cure the coronavirus?

Typically, vaccination involves the introduction into the organism of the weakened or killed microorganisms (viruses) designed to create a strong immunity to possible future infectious diseases — that is, for selection of antibodies. But what i...

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

Scientists want to draw death with the help of stem cells

Scientists want to draw death with the help of stem cells

Bioquark is about to begin testing, which will try to return the patients with brain death to life using stem cells. The controversial study raises many scientific and ethical questions, to solve which attract many experts in the ...

Bacteria have mutated in microgravity

Bacteria have mutated in microgravity

Scientists from the University of Houston found that the bacteria become stronger in space, and yet, perhaps more dangerous. In this regard, future long journeys in space can be compromised. Madhan Tirumalai, doctor of medical Sc...

Scientists have come nearer to the secret of the creation is inexhaustible donor blood cells in the laboratory

Scientists have come nearer to the secret of the creation is inexhaustible donor blood cells in the laboratory

the Blood stem cells are small miracles. They hide in each cage and giving her the ability to restore the whole circulatory system, like a sort of biological Big Bang. But with great power comes great vulnerability. Once these "ma...

China begins world's first clinical trial of embryonic stem cells

China begins world's first clinical trial of embryonic stem cells

In two new clinical trials in China will start to use embryonic stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and blindness. With them a new set of rules for the use of embryonic stem cells in China and, possibly, will begin...

With the help of immunotherapy failed to win the most aggressive type of breast cancer

With the help of immunotherapy failed to win the most aggressive type of breast cancer

To combat life-threatening diseases, scientists are increasingly turning to the development of tools that will destroy the pathological agent is not alone, as «spur» the human immune system to cope with the disease. And ...

Discovered the genes responsible for the sensitivity to the magnetic field of the Earth

Discovered the genes responsible for the sensitivity to the magnetic field of the Earth

People have long noticed that many animals, fish and insects can navigate the terrain and «feel» the Earth's magnetic field. In other words, they have something like «nature of the built-in compass». It is logi...

Found a tool that slows skin aging

Found a tool that slows skin aging

combating the effects of aging is not the last place in modern medical practice. The rapidly evolving science of gerontology, which studies the aging process and prolonging life. And, according to the publication of Scientific Rep...

Designed test that will identify the dormant HIV

Designed test that will identify the dormant HIV

Scientists from all over the world do not stop looking for a cure for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). New drugs are created and tested constantly, and the work in this direction is hampered by the fact that the virus may b...

Represented a microchip that can separate DNA and purify the fragments

Represented a microchip that can separate DNA and purify the fragments

DNA Analysis involves not only the collection of material from living people, but in some other cases. For example, at the crime scene. And DNA typically requires that the procedure was carried out sekvenirovaniya, including separ...

Created an antibiotic that kill

Created an antibiotic that kill "superbugs"

no Matter how rapidly developing and inventing new means of treating the pharmaceutical industry. The bacteria will still adapt faster, which leads to the emergence of extremely resistant strains of antibiotics, which are also cal...

Hand from the point of view of science: how to wash them properly?

Hand from the point of view of science: how to wash them properly?

Hot water or cold? Solid or liquid soap? Towels or dryer with hot air? This ritual for many of us was the most important — we have resorted to it several times a day. But how to do it, you know? Wash hands — it would seem that can...

Open new genes responsible for the development of coronary heart disease

Open new genes responsible for the development of coronary heart disease

known for the development of many diseases «responsible» our genetics. And scientists from all over the world already not the first year engaged in research of the human genome in order to successfully detect, treat and ...

Scientists from the UK test method of treatment of brain tumors using the zika virus

Scientists from the UK test method of treatment of brain tumors using the zika virus

Not long ago, the epidemic of zika virus was a real problem which, fortunately, managed to cope. But a group of scientists from Cambridge University have suggested that a dreadful virus, you may be able to use for the treatment of...

Cultured ovaries were successfully implanted sterilized mice

Cultured ovaries were successfully implanted sterilized mice

the Technology of creating artificial organs in recent years have made headway, and it gives hope that in the future it will be possible to replace the person of any authority. For example, we recently wrote about creating . And n...

Artificial intelligence will reinvent drugs ten times faster people

Artificial intelligence will reinvent drugs ten times faster people

to create a new drug today, scientists have to test tens of thousands of components to understand how they interact. And that's not the hard part. After a substance found effective against the disease, he will undergo three differ...

Found a way to create blood from stem cells

Found a way to create blood from stem cells

Despite the good development of the blood transfusion service, inventory, it is not always enough for medical needs, and scientists from around the world trying to find a solution to this issue. And, according to an article publis...

Developed eye drops for the treatment of age-related blindness

Developed eye drops for the treatment of age-related blindness

these or other impairments, according to the who, suffers almost every fifth inhabitant of our planet. Diseases associated with visual impairment can be fairly harmless (for example, all known myopia) and difficult therapy, and ev...

What do people that never feel pain?

What do people that never feel pain?

pain is the body language which tries to warn us. But in the world there are people who live their lives and never feel any pain. Whether or not their "symptoms" to discover a new way to cope with chronic pain? At the Institute of...

If we become super-strong mentally?

If we become super-strong mentally?

When people are given the opportunity to see what's going on inside their heads in real time, they quickly learn to suppress pain, self-control and improving mental abilities. If most of us had access to such technology, the world...

Eye robot surgeon clinically tested

Eye robot surgeon clinically tested

Engineers at Oxford University created the robot surgeon is able to perform operations on the eyes, for quite some time, but their development, called Robotic Retinal Dissection Device (Yes, R2D2), only recently successfully passe...