Human Augmentation with Data Science: The Rise of Cyborg Intelligence

Have you ever dreamt of becoming a superhero? Now, that is such a silly question. The right question would be, who has not? To become a superhero, you do not need to be an alien from a distant planet or get bitten by a radioactive spider. Thanks to technology and its rapid advancements, becoming a superhero is no longer a figment of your creative imagination or a sci-fi fantasy. It is a possibility in the modern world. Artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with data analytical techniques have been used to advance human society and improve their quality of life. So, if you are someone who is intellectually stimulated by such cool applications of information technology and wants to pursue a career in this domain, building a strong foundation in data science can help you in the long run and venture out into other domains as well. However, if you are restricted by tight work schedules and find it difficult to apply for a traditional data science program, consider enrolling in a data science course online.

In what can only be described as one of the most important breakthrough innovations in scientific study, researchers are looking into the possibility of enhancing humans beyond normal functioning. The most recent innovative technology in this field is human augmentation, which is a term that is used to describe technologies that are used to enhance or augment human capabilities (physical, intellectual, and mental).

In today’s modern world, technology has been dominating the right, left, and center in the workplace as well as personal life, where computational intelligence and smart gadgets have become a common phenomenon. The use of digital assistants and chatbots has improved our lives and made it much easier. However, it is only a fact that augmented and virtual reality are going to increase human augmentation and will play massive roles in the future, already being equipped as emerging technologies. Presently, these technologies are in their nascent stage where they are used to cure disabilities and present people with the opportunity to improve their abilities, both physically and intellectually. This line of research has led to the innovation and development of cyborg intelligence, which in essence refers to the amplification of human intelligence.

Even though the above narrative sounds like the origin story of Iron Man, wherein Tony Stark, who albeit has zero supernatural powers, uses his knowledge and technical expertise to overcome his physical limitations and build a super suit that he can control using artificial intelligence to enhance his capabilities and become extraordinary, this is a great cinematic representation of the potential of Artificial intelligence and IoT. The legendary transition of Tony Stark to Iron Man is a classic example of what human augmentation entails.

So, What is human augmentation?

Human augmentation, or in other words, human enhancement, is the field of study that uses methods and technologies to enhance the physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities of humans. In simple words, they aim to improve people’s quality of life, health, and performance. Human augmentation also refers to the ways in which humans and machines can collaborate, which is attained through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytical techniques in data science, and cloud-based technologies. Since human augmentation results in enhanced human functions, it is also known to be human 2.0.

The world is transforming at a faster pace, and human augmentation backed by data science can lead to the faster development of cyborg intelligence. By fusing the advantages of automation and artificial intelligence with skilled human guidance, we can be witnesses to the rapid development of machine-augmented intelligence. Thus, in the future, it is possible to raise a smarter and more efficient workforce comprising human workers, caregivers, students, public servants, and professionals in almost any field.

Some real-life examples of human augmentation that are already in circulation include the use of robotic limbs and tools for enhancing sensory capabilities. For example, the next-generation cochlear implants used to sense and process sound Google glasses that show augmented visual content are popular examples of how technology is used to augment human abilities.

Also, Exoskeletons made by Ekso-Works for use in industry and rehabilitation are another great example of human augmentation application in real-life. Typically, their products are wearable technology that gives users artificial strength and endurance. These tools are available in various versions to assist users in various fields, such as construction, vehicle manufacturing, and even physical therapy, to give support to the body during heavy physical work.

A cheap solar-rechargeable hearing aid called Solar Ear provides a reasonably priced solution to conventional hearing issues, introducing technology into our nation and making such devices accessible to areas that could not previously afford them.

eSight, a wearable gadget that works like glasses, lets people who are legally blind see their surroundings. With its front-facing cameras, the gadget records the surroundings in near-eye quality and projects it onto a screen that is directly in front of the wearer’s eyes.

Other examples include miners using wearables for improving the safety of workers or nanorobotics and performance-enhancing surgery.

From Supercomputers To Cyborg Intelligence

Human augmentation can be the solution for long-term health, from restoring to replacing human functions or body parts, from gene editing to nanotechnologies, wearables, and sensors. The integration of multiple scientific disciplines in the process of human enhancement can result in the creation of a new “intelligent” and “strong” human species. The advancements in technology and medical science, coupled with the creation of supercomputers and enhanced body parts or robotic limbs, can pave the way for a merger between humans and machines. These include human-changing technologies, detachable cyborg extensions, and cyborg-humans. However, human augmentation does not only refer to the “cyborg-ization” of humans. Besides enhancing and restoring human abilities using technology, it can pave the way for the development of new skills and additional features in humans.

Thus, supercomputers of yesterday have paved the way for the development of the super brains of tomorrow. While the concept of cyborg intelligence has been a constant topic for sci-film films with disturbing outcomes, rest assured we have made a quantum leap in cyborg intelligence.