Cyborg World: How Biohacking Will (and Already Is) Changing Everything

MODERN CYBORGS

In a presentation titled “Biohacking and the Connected Body” at the Singularity University Global Summit, Hannes Sjoblad, co-founder of the Sweden-based biohacker network Bionyfiken, stated that we likely encounter 'cyborgs' on a daily basis without knowing it.

The modern cyborgs we see today include pacemakers, smart insulin monitors, bionic eyes, and robotic arms and legs. These 'biohacks' are helping people with disabilities get more from life than ever before. Sjoblad notes this biohacking is utterly reshaping our world, and it will continue to do so. He explains, "we live in a time where, thanks to technology, we can make the deaf hear, the blind see, and the lame walk."

Indeed, he believes health is where biohacking can help the most. An ingestible smart pill equipped with wireless technology can help monitor the reactions of the body to different medications and treatments—literally telling doctors if the healing process if working from inside the body.

Biohacking can also be beneficial to security. Similar to how we can unlock our smartphones with our fingerprints, imagine the police equipped with guns only they can use. It will eliminate the risk of a bad guy disarming the law enforcers and using the firearm for nefarious purposes.

SIMPLIFYING LIFE

Indeed, biohacking has the power to transform not only our world, but also our bodies. They could be tied directly to everything we do. Including monetary transactions.

Sjoblad demonstrated how biohacking can simplify life through a microchip. Imagine not having to rummage through your bag or search your wallet for your credit card or cash. Simply go to your favorite coffee shop, wave your microchip-equipped hand, and bam! Done. Paid. No threat of being mugged, either. Or imagine having an unfortunate accident and you're unconscious, but the paramedics have no trouble identifying you because they have emergency access to your basic info.

The Terminator movies have corrupted our minds in terms of how we think about cyborgs. We imagine the rise of traitor robots hell-bent on taking over the world. Truth of the matter is that biohacking has helped improve the quality of human life in many ways.

And if that's not enough, it is something that you can do yourself.