From: Natasha Vita-More (natasha@natasha.cc)
Date: Tue Jul 29 2003 - 09:12:52 MDT
At 11:48 PM 7/28/03 -0700, -samantha wrote:
>To be a cyborg is to work on integration of computational systems and
>modes of
>synthetic and increased perception and weave those into one's on gestalt at a
>level deeper than the merely mechanical. Steve Mann has been doing this
>nearly 24/7 for over 15 years and teaching others to do likewise. That is
>why I consider him to be much more of a true cyborg.
The questions is whether Steve Mann, out of desire, is more of a cybernetic
mechanism than someone who has integrated computers and synthetic systems
into their bodies out of life-preserving necessity (and, as much,
evolutionary). In the latter, the emotions and psyche are forever altered
in regards to the personal relationship of machine/biology as a by-part of
having a developed a sense of dependency and earned respect for the
relationship. Manfred Clynes described the need for humans to artificially
enhance biological functions in order to survive in the hostile environment
of Space.
There is a big difference between the needs of a life-preserving system in
its communication to the body and to the psyche in maintaining life to that
of a desire for a relationship out of pre-planned artistic design for
enhancing a system to communicate. Both have their values. The largest
difference between defaulting to a cyborg lifestyle and initiating a cyborg
lifestyle is in the mechanics of the mind. This takes on its own direction
and becomes another element in the persona of cyborg.
Natasha
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