Article published In: Creativity, Cognition and Material Culture
Edited by Lambros Malafouris, Chris Gosden and Karenleigh A. Overmann
[Pragmatics & Cognition 22:1] 2014
► pp. 159–181
Creating practical cyborgs
Published online: 10 December 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/pc.22.1.09war
https://doi.org/10.1075/pc.22.1.09war
In this paper we consider the creative realisation of new beings — namely, cyborgs. These can be brought about in a number of ways, and several versions are discussed. A key feature is merging biological and technological sections into an overall living operational whole. A practical look is taken at how the use of implant and electrode technology can be employed to open up new paths between humans/animals and technology, especially linking the brain directly with external entities. Actual experimentation in each of the different cyborg forms perhaps defines the paper’s contents more than anything else. Considered are RFID implants, magnet implants, deep brain stimulation, Braingate implants and growing biological brains in robot bodies.
Keywords: Cyborgs, Deep Brain Stimulation, human enhancement, implant technology, brains, cultures
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