Bionic body parts

I figure here would be a good place to talk about bionic body parts, and how they are totally rad and awesome.

Here is some slightly old but completely awesome news about a German man who lost use of his left hand after an electical accident at work, so he had it cut off and replaced with a bionic one.

Humans aren't the only species to use tools, but they're our defining characteristic, in the same way that echolocation is the defining characteristic of bats. Thus, I believe that attaching one's tools to oneself is the most singularly human action a person can take—but of course, our tools are still primitive in this regard, and in some ways still inferior to what nature has provided. I will consider myself to officially be living in a golden age if they ever invent an artifical hand that has a sense of touch.

edited 29th May '11 3:19:37 AM by feotakahari

How is usage of tools the defining characteristic of humans?

Because no other species does it to the extend of humans, regardless of their intelligence?

But wouldn't that be a symptom of our high intelligence?

Chimpanzees use tools. They dig into termite mounds with sticks.

edited 29th May '11 7:20:41 AM by annebeeche

(some)Birds use tools!

Anyway, I think thats derail o-o Back on topic.

Soooo, whats difference between bionic and prosthetic? Former is more mechanical while latter is kinda like... Plastic? I don't know, I'm stupid

I always thought a prosthetic was simply a dead lump of plastic that you could use for some basic actions of the missing body part, while biotic replacement would be something like Automail.

The rate of bionic technology is amazing. There're already bionic arms that move by sensing the mustles of a limb stump, and bionic eyes give some range of vision. I bet in just twenty more years, there will be bionic weapons that give super strength, super speed...

The only problem are Required Secondary Powers.

A Bionic Pancreas.

That would be definitely be amazing.

Honestly.

A little offtopic, but I might as well explain what I said earlier: tools are humanity's way of surviving against creatures that are bigger, faster, and generally nastier. I think of them as more of a defining element than intelligence itself because an intelligent person without any tools still can't survive an attack by a lion, whereas a complete idiot with a gun can go lion-hunting.

I want to be a full-body cyborg. Before I upload myself, of course.

I sometimes consider having my eyes modified.

I remember a report about lcd contact lenses which would display things straight onto your eyes, a HUD, basically.

More Reliable bionics would be necessary before I would consider getting replacement parts.

Once they get a well-functioning bionic eye with night vision, thermal vision, and a general HUD displaying such fun stats as my body temp, the time, and so on, I'm so replacing my right eye with one.

Well, once bionics get cheap enough, there will be a whole new set of problems. First of all, you'll have people chopping off their limbs just to get new ones.

Well I personally would opt to replace some parts with bionics. I always say, if you can do better than nature, go with it.

Except for when it comes to meats and boobs. Those are cases where real trumps artificial.

I think it would be cool to be able to switch between a meat body and a synthetic customized superpowered one, like in The Surrogates. Except nobody there *

I don't see people removing limbs to get new ones to be a "problem." It would just turn a currently medical-only technology into a booming business. Imagine if you could get new limbs as easily as new phones, for the same reasons- they'd have enhanced or different features.

IIRC, the "general" terminology would be that the first one is attached and gives feed back, the second is removable.

^^ Inb4 Cybernetics Eat Your Soul.

Personally, I'd like to see bionic parts restricted to those who need them, at least until such time as they become cheap enough that the rich won't be stronger and faster than the poor, but if said parts get cool enough capabilities I expect Screw the Rules, I Have Money! will apply.

edited 29th May '11 11:05:35 PM by feotakahari

So you'd rather cut development costs and wait for random people to find bugs rather than dipshits who are willing to fork over the cash?

Long before that happens, you'll be able to get the same benefits cheaply and conveniently from a pair of goggles.

I won't be too interested in bionics until they require no more maintenance than the rest of my body does. But exosuits are cool.

^^ Like I said, it's a moot point anyways.