Chapter 12

Bioelectronics and Implanted Devices

Ellen M. McGee

12.1 IntroductionThe future may well involve the emergence of humans who are fundamentally coupled with bioelectronic devices, science fiction’s “cyborgs.” Revolutions in semiconductor devices, cognitive science, bioelectronics, nanotechnology and applied neural control technologies are facilitating breakthroughs in hybrids of humans and machines. The interactions of increased computing power, advances in prosthetic devices, artificial implants, and systems that blend electronic and biological components, are facilitating the merging of man with machines. Increasing numbers of body parts are being replaced with bio-electronic and mechanical items, accli-matizing us to the melding of the organic and non-organic. Used as curative devices

In the future, if it becomes possible
both to clone an individual and to implant a chip with the uploaded memories, emo-
tions, and knowledge of the clone’s source, a type of immortality could be achieved.

(Maguire 1999) Brain-computer interfaces involve technologies which take infor- mation from the brain and externalize it as well as those which provide individuals  with access to information from outside

Read full article