The Societal Reality of That Which Was Once Science Fiction

Abstract

AbstractWhile it may well be necessary to acknowledge that one day we may become part machine, at least for medical reasons, it is impossible to know whether wider utopian, dystopian or simply pedestrian predictions of human ICT implants are realisable in the long term. However, as this book has sought to describe, debate now will have an immediate bearing on the real world with conclusions that could affect researchers, manufacturers, social institutions as well as our ideals of freedom and human dignity. Surprisingly, it has taken the wider academic community some time to agree that meaningful discourse on the topic of human implantable ICT technology is of value. As developments in implantable medical technologies point to greater possibilities for human enhancement, this shift in thinking is not too soon in coming. However, even at this early stage of the technology’s trajectory, greater regulatory and scientific certainty is required. And herein lays the challenge: regulating emerging risks, including health, privacy and security risks, against the broader public interest without compromising the development of a promising and powerful technology. The foundations for the acceptance of all human ICT implants must be themselves designed and built as a matter of priority to ensure their acceptance and commercial success. Having described the varied issues surrounding the development and deployment of human ICT implant devices, this chapter provides an overview of this book’s key conclusions and contributions.KeywordsHuman DignityCochlear ImplantScience FictionSecurity RiskCommercial SuccessThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.