“Third Thumb” Augmentation Changes the Way we Think of Prosthetics
What does it mean to be disabled in the 21st century? With the near-proliferation of advanced prosthetic technology, could today’s disabled be the first in line for a Transhumanist future? Better yet, how will this challenge the definition of being disabled?
Under the collaborative efforts of Eidos Montreal, Open Bionics, and Razer, the bionic arms as seen in the upcoming video game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are becoming a reality.
“Open Bionics, Eidos-Montréal and Razer are working together to bring Deus Ex inspired augmentations to life. The three companies will partner up to help bridge the gap between fiction and reality, working together to design, 3D print, scan, power, and create affordable bionic hands. This “Augmented Future” initiative will combine the expertise of each company, with the ultimate goal being to make fashionable robotic prosthesis accessible to a larger audience.”
– Eidos Montreal
Photo Credit: Eidos Montreal
The bionic arm used by Deus Ex’s Adam Jensen is truly a work of art. And now it will become a reality for all to enjoy. The three companies have joined forces to help create affordable bionic arms by taking advantage of the growing 3D printing industry. Not only that, to ensure everyone has access to this technology, the entire bionic arm’s design will be open-source for the entire online community.
To top it all off, Razer will also be partnering up with Intel in the creation of the Stargazer – the world’s most advanced web cam. This web cam will have the highest known frame-rate capture, allowing users of the new bionic arm to achieve unparalleled speed and precision. As a result, your hand motion will be tracked in real-time to deliver control of the bionic arm that is akin to its biological predecessor.
This entire collaboration between the four companies will be under what is known as the “Augmented Future” initiative. If you’ve ever dreamed of being like Adam Jensen from Deus Ex, now is your chance. The Age of Flesh is soon coming to an end. Make way for the Age of Cyborgs!
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
Let’s take a brief u-turn back to the start of the article. How will this challenge the definition of being disabled? In a future where people will likely be opting for bionic limbs over their biological ones, the very definition of “disability” will be turned upside down. Rather than those with bionic limbs, it will instead be the human population who might very well be considered “disabled.” After all, what is a purely biological human in a world predominantly made up of cyborgs? Will this create a violent conflict as envisioned in the Deus Ex video game or will we find a more peaceful solution, something more akin to the peaceful existence of both the modern world today and those living within Amish communities?
Whatever might occur, we must prepare for it. Exciting times are ahead of us and the Age of Cyborgs is only just beginning. With the continued efforts of the Augmented Future initiative, your dream of becoming more like Adam Jensen is fast becoming a reality. Welcome to the future!
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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