<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSKxBhRjt8dqPDpdTcmV44NvWh2vDsPzfVxgAJRaQgBzo/image.png)</center>

# <center>Humans, Cyborgs and Androids</center>

Androids are fully mechanical machines (perhaps beings) that are modeled to look and ideally act like a human being. Think of the character data from Star Trek. Cyborgs however started off as humans that are made up of both organic (i.e. living) and bio-mechanical parts with an example being Robocop. In separate discussions I've talked about the possibilities of a machine becoming sentient, to the point of being considered worthy of 'respect' we give to humans. 

But this article is going to go in the reverse **asking the question of is it possible for a human to take on so many cybernetic components they essentially could lose that which made them human.** I don't profess to have concrete answers here, just my thoughts and predictions. In the end it will probably end in a similar manner as the US Supreme Courts attempt to define porn which essentially said, "I can't fully give a definition, but I'll know it when I see it.

I have to expect that as time goes on we are going to see the trend of coupling our bodies with technology. Some are more invasive such as prosthetic arms that are hooked into to nerve endings allowing them to be controlled by signals from the brain as well as some being able to respond back with touch sensations. 

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<center>http://i.imgur.com/Xs4cJOi.png</center>

A more in depth view of what goes into this type of 'human-machine' interfacing can be seen in the Ted talk titled ["Extreme Bionics"](https://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance) by Hugh Herr.

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Already we have wearable technology such as [smart glasses](http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/augmented-reality-smart-glasses/) that provide an augmented reality view of the world. Functionality includes the ability to view 3D objects in a new way, to having information pulled up on an overlay, to providing directions to a location. Levi's is releasing their [smart jacket](https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/12/levis-google-commuter-smart-jacket-first-look/) this year with many more technological clothing on the horizon.

<center>http://i.imgur.com/r52fYSE.gif</center>

Now I know this isn't exactly the typical view of cybernetics, but things like this, allow us to think differently. Think of the things we wouldn't need to store in our actual memory, instead being comfortably dependent on these 'enhancements.' Hell, just by being in the age of smart phones, I **challenge you to think of the last time you actually memorized a phone number instead of just seeing the contact** named 'Bob' or some other name in your contact list.

There has even been some research into temporary tattoos made from electroconductive ink that might be used to take your temperature, monitor your health, or even complete your ApplePay payments! 

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<center>http://i.imgur.com/Xs4cJOi.png</center>

## <center>Now Let's Look Waaay out in the Future</center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNyfTJrbDX5fezkhrkbkopN328BqcUW4cDmUDvrphFGfP/image.png)</center>

In a Futurama episode called "The Six Million Dollar Mon" Hermes goes from being 100% 'natural human' to completely mechanical except for this brain. Each upgrade he performs is to allow him some expansion of functionality, such as stronger, faster, extendable arms, a Cylon like eye allowing to see across much a wider spectrum, etc. Now while never stated, it never seemed that the ability to 'feel' touch sensation was retained, he'd no long be hungry or thirsty since there were no more organs (outside the brain,) which has to make you wonder where the line might be to losing one's humanity. Is it the body, is it the brain, is it something beyond those?

Now my question in a scenario like this is this:

### If Hermes' brain was uploaded to and replaced by a mechanical alternative, such as the [positronic brain](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Positronic_brain) used by Star Trek's Data android...would he still be human?

My mind goes a couple of ways on this. On the one hand, no longer having the typical biological needs (which is what we are made to detect and react to on a primal level,) starts us down a path that I can see becoming distinct from what we currently think of as human...say the need to use the term super-human or human-plus. 

On the other hand, I like to think that our actual identity, essence and/or soul is contained not in the physical itself, but rather in the pattern that was set up. In this case, should the full pattern of the brain be transferred (and maintained) in the artificial medium, the thing that would 'make me be me,' would still exist. This would lead me to want to answer that I would still be human, even if future generations that would start from this point may need to use another definition, since they wouldn't have the same biological references I was build upon.

## <center>What's Your Thought?</center>


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Image Sources:
[Gold Cyborg](https://www.flickr.com/photos/toasty/3836468996)
[Augmented Reality Gif](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SteveMann_SequantialWaveImprintingMachine.gif)</center>
[Hermes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005621/)