The Future of the Human Race

[LavaLampBamboo]

I was watching the trailer for Deus Ex Human Revolution a little while ago, and it got me to thinking about the future and the human race augmenting itself.

I read an interview with futurist Ray Kurzviel (I may have mispelt that) about how he predicts that with 40 to 50 years from now, the human race will have essentially merged with technology and become a kind of immortal cyborg people. This is roughly what I remember from the interview, so I could be slightly off on some details

I was wondering what the peoples of the Escapist thought of this. I for one am slightly odd in that if I was offered immortality, I would definately take it. The idea of augmenting my body with technology to improve it very much appeals to me, although this could be a result of my severe self esteem issues =)

But anyway, what do you think of the idea that humanity might eventually transcend into cyborgs or similar? Does the thought of being a post human robot appeal to you?

 

[Mr. Self Destruct]

I hope I die long before that

 

[Marter]

I wouldn't be shocked if people did end up being merged with technology. It won't save us, as I believe the human race is doomed anyway, it'll just by us some time.

I wouldn't want immortality. You'd have to see everything and everyone around you die, and that would be hard to take.

 

[octafish]

Stelarc [http://www.stelarc.va.com.au/]

 

[quiet_samurai]

Fuck that, I would never relinquish money to some company for body parts.... because you would also be giving them control of said part.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

I wouldn't want immortality. You'd have to see everything and everyone around you die, and that would be hard to take.

Except of course for that fact that what he's suggesting here is a transhumanist race all members of which would be immortal (or at least have abnormally long lives), so you'd only be watching those who didn't choose to combine themselves with machines die, and you could make plenty of friends who'd live every bit as long as you would.

As for me, I certainly wouldn't knock the opportunity to upgrade to a cybernetic body. Especially if we're talking Ghost in the Shell type stuff here.

 

[Free Thinker]

Can they shove my brain in a jar and shove it in a giant robot like that one Dragonball Z movie?
Can someone post that to enlighten those unaware?

 

[Skeleton Jelly]

I wouldn't be shocked if people did end up being merged with technology. It won't save us, as I believe the human race is doomed anyway, it'll just by us some time.

I wouldn't want immortality. You'd have to see everything and everyone around you die, and that would be hard to take.

No, cause everyone will be cyborgs. Even puppies and kittens!

I think it would be great. I think we should just concentrate on establishing some kind of peace (lol). Even though it may be veeeeeeery veeeeery impossible now, imagine if we augmented ourselves to machines to repress hurtful and violent thoughts. As long as we don't turn entirely into machines. Like it shouldn't effect what we look like. Unless its just some wires here, or a metal plate there.

 

[ThaBenMan]

I read this thing online that you might find interesting - it's a speculative fiction story called All Tomorrows [http://www.nemoramjet.com/alltomorrows.pdf], by Nemo Ramjet. In it, humanity is conquered by a god-like alien race, that takes all humans and genetically alters them into a myriad of different new species. Then, they mysteriously dissappear, leaving the new "humans" to evolve on their own. It spans across billions of years, and has some really awesome (and creepy) illustrations. Not quite the same as your initial post, but kind of in the same vein and very cool in itself.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I wouldn't want to transform into a cyborg to tell you the truth.

Being satisfied with my body as it is, I don't feel the need to change it.

Besides, if you were able to just activate a switch(so to speak) to modify your body or upload new skills at any time, it would take all the satisfaction out of things.

I think it would be great. I think we should just concentrate on establishing some kind of peace (lol). Even though it may be veeeeeeery veeeeery impossible now, imagine if we augmented ourselves to machines to repress hurtful and violent thoughts. As long as we don't turn entirely into machines.

Although this would be something great about it for humanity as a whole(if this actually happens).

 

[The Bum]

If i'm dead so will every one else if i'm alive WORLD DOMINATION!!!


You will all bend to my will!

(exept us escapists)

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

I don't know if this would happen in 40 or 50 years (it always seems that people think that humanity will be more advanced at a certain time that it really will be). I could see something like this happening eventually, along with engineering our bodies (genetic engineering, chemical treatment, bio-enhancements). And I definately wouldn't mind having my life extended (so long as I don't age normally, who really wants to feel like a 300 year-old).

 

[Wardnath]

Assuming I'm not a Cyberman/Strogg/Borg (I like my sapience, as dysfunctional as it is), sure, why not?

Though mind uploading (like the Silence in the Library episode from Doctor Who) isn't bad either.

imagine if we augmented ourselves to machines to repress hurtful and violent thoughts.

No, absolutely not.

 

[Rooster893]

I am one of those people that is TERRIFIED of the future.


I wouldn't want to be merged with technology, because I don't want to become some thoughtless, emotionless cyborg, but I don't want to be immortal, because everyone dying around me would be just plain depressing.


I don't want to know what the future holds, all I know is that it's coming and I can't do anything about it.

 

[jords]

I would like immortality, seeing everybody else die wouldn't be all that bad, really.

 

[gbemery]

Well resistance would be futile, so why not. Bring on the cyborgs and extreme overpopulation.

 

[DividedUnity]

If I was to post something deep id say we are already robots etc. but I wont. I would mind it. Id prefer if it was nano-machne type thing where you wouldnt notice it. I quite like how people look.

 

[HyperboleKitty]

But anyway, what do you think of the idea that humanity might eventually transcend into cyborgs or similar? Does the thought of being a post human robot appeal to you?

I approve.

I whole heartedly approve providing the cyborg fusion does allow us to retain a good chunk of our bio mass as opposed to having entire limbs be cybernetic in nature. The kind of cyborg implants that I would approve would be something along the lines of nano synthetic cells(or maybe even pico synthetic cells) running around the body doing maintenance for our body and running diagnostics when needed. A neural network that allows us to interface with machinery and use them as if it was just an extra set of limbs would also be made of awesome as well and would certainly help make mobility all the more cooler. The means to access computers with the mind and any vast stores of knowledge via some wireless network is also quite all right with me. So yeah. Bring on the post-human future where our lives are improved by advanced technology. : )