As technology moves at a rapid pace it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends and fads without considering the many hours of planning, research, prototyping and manufacturing that have gone into creating hardware devices that have a transformative function in the lives of many people. One area where this is most evident is through wearable body parts and devices that are getting lighter, more agile and smarter with every year that passes. From Cochlear implants to artificial hearts, the notion of what it means to be human is slowly changing as technology and science advance, and the possibility of becoming a cyborg within our lifetime is, well, not far off (geeks rejoice).
Here at nexpaq we’ve been thinking of the role modularity can play within this- after all, the ability to swap and exchange connected body parts (particularly as the needs of the user changes or they grow in age) is a compelling reason to delve further into this fascinating sector. We’ve taken a look at what’s currently possible but have also taken a little creative license to let our minds explore what just might be possible in the future:
Prosthetics
The design and functionality of prosthetics is constantly evolving with the opportunity for amputees to enjoy prosthetics that are customized depending on the different functionalities the wearer needs, such as prosthetic blades for running and different hand configurations for different tasks. The biggest complaint by many is that such high end end devices are financially inaccessible for all except the very wealthy.
However, 3D printing is making prosthetics affordable to those that would otherwise go without, in particular through the plethora of initiatives facilitated by volunteer hackers, engineers and 3D printing enthusiasts. They’re keen to spread the knowledge with open source designs and prototypes that can be replicated anywhere in the world at a fraction of the price of commercial prosthetics. For example, not for profit Enabling the Future has created first ever open-source Augmented Reality (AR) assembly manual for a 3D printed upper limb assistive device in the world making their knowledge far more accessible in great detail than ever before.
Refugee Open Ware is a humanitarian organization comprised of building Fab Labs in conflict-affected areas. They provide training to displaced persons and host communities, while building solutions to the problems facing victims of conflict. It currently has a Fab Lab in Amman, Jordan which trains locals in advanced manufacturing and creates 3D printed prosthetics.
This year we’ve also seen the creation of the world’s first Modular Prosthetic Limb developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). It’s biggest point of difference compared to other prosthetics is that it is mounted directly to the wearer’s residual limb through a procedure called osseointegration. It’s a two surgery process where a custom made compressive device is implanted into the marrow space of the bone of the residual limb to create a strong, long-lasting connection between the implant and the bone. In the second stage, an adapter is brought through the skin and connected to the implant on the bone side, enabling a direct connection to the external prosthesis. It enables a greater range of motion and comfort than previously possible.
Body augmentation, biohacking style
The advent of small sensors and magnets means that many parts of the body are ripe for modular augmentation, particularly when they can be personalized to benefit the interests of the wearer. You may recall that in 2009, Finnish programmer Jerry Jalava replaced his lost finger with a USB drive. With the advances in tech since then it’s easy to speculate on what modular devices could be interchanged in it’s place. How about a laser distance measurer, QR code scanner or RFID chip?
If we allow for a brief foray into dystopian fiction, there’s also the ingenuity of Merle Dixon in The Walking Dead television series and comics who supplements his amputated arm with a DIY wearable weapon. Whilst a sensor tech version may not be much help if earth is indeed invaded by walkers and all connectivity is lost, our desire to create one persists, especially if it included infrared, x-ray, machine gun or laser shooting capacities.
Then there’s Rob Spence, who calls himself the Eyeborg, who has replaced his blind eye with a prosthetic, wireless video camera embedded in the…socket. Its not connected to his brain but it does provide the world’s first literal point of view including glancing around and blinking. What if future iterations could include a mini-projector to enable him to screen his creations from his eye? Or an augmented reality devices like the Structure Sensor to record the world in 3D form?
What if modules could create a new reality?
Up until now the examples I’ve detailed are all replacement parts for when something has been removed or does not work. What about supplementary or add on components that provide add-ons?
The most infamous module of all…
Most cyborg enthusiasts are familiar with Neil Harbisson, who is not only the first person in the world with an antenna implanted in his skull but officially recognized as a cyborg by a government (in 2004, the British government officially recognised Neil as the first human cyborg). He successfully argued that he be allowed to wear what Neil calls the ‘eyeborg’, a small device that transforms light waves into sounds to allow him to perceive colour, in his passport photo, as this was a part of him.
His antenna uses audible vibrations in his skull to report information to him. This includes measurements of electromagnetic radiation, phone calls, music, as well as video or images which are translated into sound.[18] It also allows him to receive signals and data from satellites.
A sixth sense:
Harbisson is cofounder of the company Cyborg Nest who recently launched their first commercial product, North Sense, a Bluetooth-enabled, thumbnail-sized embeddable piece of tech that attaches to your body with a couple piercings and vibrates every time it faces magnetic north. It’s not the most exciting wearable that could come out of such a visionary company but given the difficulty in getting commercial acceptance of anything more out there, it’s certainly a start in getting consumers ready for what could come in the future.
Contact lenses:
Start up Innovega has been working for a number of years on an augmented-reality contact lens prototype that puts transparent data from a smartphone or computer directly into a user’s field of vision. When paired with the company’s modified eyeglasses, the lenses allow users to focus on a high-tech display in their peripheral vision. The contacts have financial backing and the company is waiting for FDA approval to take their product to market-an arduous task at best.
Add your own body part
Jezebel recently published a first hand account by a woman who wore a tail for a week where she details her challenges with negotiating physical space, sitting down, clothing choices and of course the staring of others. Sadly the tales are out of stock right now but it got us thinking at nexpaq, what if the tail had modular connectivity and practical capabilities like a video recorder or magnetic device charging station? The possibilities are endless…
We’d love to hear from you, what modules you’d like to be made possible for the body. Tell us in the comments or on Twitter!
