From: Brett Paatsch (bpaatsch@bigpond.net.au)
Date: Mon Jul 28 2003 - 07:34:52 MDT
Just finished reading "I, CYBORG", by Kevin Warwick.
Warwick's was a new name to me but whilst looking for
"Merchant's of Immortality", in the pop sci section of the
bookshop, I got pulled in by the title and the cover:
"Professor Kevin Warwick, the world's leading expert
in Cybernetics, unveils the story of how he became
the world's first cyborg, .., part human part machine,
in a groundbreaking set of scientific experiments.
In the years ahead we will witness machines with an
intelligence more powerful than that of humans. Robots,
not humans, will make all the important decisions. A
robot-dominated world with dire consequences for
humankind; is there an alternative way ahead? Can we
use technology to upgrade ourselves, to improve on our
comparatively limited capabilities, to harness the ever-
increasing abilities of machine intelligence, to enable
extra sensory input and to communicate in a much
richer way, using thought alone?
The possibility does exist, and Kevin Warwick has
taken the first steps on this fascinating path, using
himself as a guinea pig receiving, by surgical
operation, technological implants connected to his
central nervous system.
This is Kevin Warwick's very personal account of
his amazing steps towards becoming a Cyborg. A
story of scientific endeavour and devotion that
splits apart his personal life and the lives of those
around him, this astounding and unique story takes
in top scientists from around the globe and seriously
questions human moral, values and ethics.
Overriding everything, at the expense of a normal
life, is Kevin's all-encompassing scientific quest and
desire to be a Cyborg."
I think the cover overstates the bit about *seriously*
questioning human moral, values and ethics, and the
book is slow in parts, with perhaps too much detail
on the day to day logistics of meetings and getting
funding with too little detail on the underlying science,
but, as it was written almost journal fashion over the
period January 2001 to August 2002, I think the
reader does get a sense of looking over the shoulder
of some real pioneering work.
I would be interested to hear what others think of
Warwick's claims to have been the first cyborg and
to what extent if at all his achievements in practice
have been surpassed by others or by Warwick
himself, now, less than a year since I, CYBORG,
was written.
Brett Paatsch
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