The augmentation of the human body is controversial. And the question whether one will lose their humanity is in question. In R. Talsorians’s Cyberpunk, the role playing game, this idea is perfectly translated into a statistic. The score tracks when a player character becomes more machine than man. However, there are also valid reasons to allow for some people to become enhanced to improve their quality of life. In Cyborg: A Documentary, first-time director Carey Born dives into the possibilities. Thankfully, there’s people who know when to stop rather than to keep on augmenting.
Although this filmmaker is quite focused on this individual, the discourse concerning who else can benefit really depends. For the most part, Neil Harbisson‘s life is front and centre. Although born without the ability to perceive colour, he’s become an artist who uses sound to help him paint. That’s because of the computer software he helped develop to let him hear how paint works. Although he’s not the world’s first person to receive an implant, to show how he functions as a spokesperson for this movement is rather fascinating. While the idea of inserting a chip into an organic body is nothing new because pets often get an RFID chip, to put that in a human is troublesome.
In the wrong hands, they allow “Big Brother” to track that individual. As for what other kinds of electronic chips can be put in, I’m uncertain that with some customised neurography, any person can enhance one or all of their five senses. The technology isn’t perfect and while we’re nowhere near what Steve Austin had done to him in the Six Million Dollar Man, I’m sure advancements in the coming decade can allow for an eye to be replaced rather than have an antenna sticking out of the back of your body. The prototypes exist, but they’re nowhere near the 4K resolution needed to be useful.
This movie shows we don’t have to be afraid of technology rewriting the human DNA or genome. This artist has the support of Moon, his wife, and they both believe that humanity should embrace the idea that one day everyone will be jacked in one way or another. This technology can be used under the right circumstances, but as for what the world health organisation thinks, Harbisson believes they fear what technology can do should these procedures become commonplace. He says some folks are fearful about the idea of playing god, and the ramifications is properly explored.
While this work does not deal with why humanity should fear artificial intelligence, this discourse needs to be included. It’s one thing to have a robot limb attached, but another when we don’t know what kind of program is included in that augmentation.
I love how this work is opening up this concern. Although he’s an advocate for augmentation, not everyone needs it. Also, he looks nothing like Uncle Martin from My Favourite Martian. The antenna that sticks out of him may seem weird, but what he is wearing does not differ from wearing augmented reality glasses. Although to have something smaller is at least half a decade away, I’m sure he doesn’t want it so he can appear normal. He’s quite used to looking the way he is.
Although he’s an advocate for reshaping the human body as required, he’s no extremist. He just wants people to be aware of the possibilities. And I’m glad all the pros and cons are weighed in. Without it, the future isn’t in question, but just how humanity can become techno-organic is in a safe way. Not everyone wants to be a Borg from Star Trek.
5 Stars out of 5
Cyborg: A Documentary Trailer
