THE FARM REVEALED
PROGRAMME 5: BIONICS
BACKGROUND
Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading in the UK. His main interests are artificial intelligence and robotics. He is also one of the world's first cyborgs.
A cyborg is a cybernetic organism – something or someone that is part human, part machine.
In 1998, Kevin underwent an operation to implant a silicon chip transponder – also called a radio frequency identification device (RFID) – into his forearm. This allowed a computer to monitor Kevin's movements at the University of Reading. In actual fact, it is the same type of technology as is implanted into pets, so that they can be identified should they be lost or stolen. The chip carries a unique identifying signal, which could be used to open security doors, or carry personal information – such as passport details, credit card information, national insurance number, blood type – and more, much more.
Then in 2002, Kevin had a 'one hundred electrode array' implanted into nerve fibres in his left arm. Surgeons inserted a guiding tube into his arm just above the wrist and then inserted the microelectrode array into the tube and fired it into the median nerve fibres below the elbow joint.
A number of experiments have been carried out using the signals detected by the electrodes in Kevin's arm. He was able to control an electric wheelchair and an intelligent artificial hand. As well as being able to pick up nerve signals transmitted down Professor Warwick's left arm, the implant was also able to create artificial sensation by stimulating individual electrodes within the array, which fired signals directly into Kevin's nervous system.
Kevin is undoubtedly the first person to make a conscious decision to be a cyborg and experiment with what he can do. However, there are already thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide who rely on electronic implants to keep them alive. Heart pacemakers have become a routine of Western medicine. Cochlea implants are increasingly used to help people who are deaf. The availability and range of these devices is on the increase. How soon will it be before we have ceased being a human race and have become a cyborg race?
