The Man with a Cyborg Hand

by Socrates on December 3, 2009 · Comments


Scientists hail robotic hand ‘breakthrough’

A group of European scientists have successfully connected a robotic hand to an amputee, allowing him to feel sensations in the artificial limb, and control it by thought.

During a month of experiments, the patient made complex movements using only his brain. It is being heralded as a scientific breakthrough.

BBC News Report

Isn’t that just another piece of evidence that we are witnessing biology being replaced by technology?

What are the implications to the human race?

Just when do we stop to be human?

At what point does the human (world) become the cyborg (world)?


  • This is such an amazing story. It is so heartening to read pieces like this because the technology could also be applied to people living with a spinal cord injury [who have full use of their minds but can no longer use their limbs].

    Thanks for the post!
  • This is completely true Julie.

    However it is only half of the story.

    The other half is: What happens when we start replacing parts (or the whole) of our brain?

    Yes, technology can help people with spinal cord injuries, just like it can help people with brain injuries. The question then is what happens to the person whose brain has been replaced (in part or completely) with microprocessors and so on.

    Is it the same person or is it a different one?

    Is she a person at all? ...or a machine?

    Where do we draw the line?

    Just when do we stop to be human?
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