The SyFy channel series Continuum speaks of a time where police officers (known as protectors) dress in technology that offers them tremendous protection, power, and feedback to their superiors. These cops constitute a more acceptable evolution from the traditional ‘Robocop’ impression of a cyborg and seem to indicate that there is a possibility we could one day move in that direction. A casual encounter with a handful of new wearable technologies have me convinced we are a lot closer to the cyborg future than I thought.
It was Lumo that opened my eyes. The bodytech outfitter just pre-released a product called lumo lift, which is meant to analyze your posture and provide constant updates and reminders on how straight/proper your posture is. This is done by attaching a small device to clothing on your upper body. The device tracks and analyzes you in order to provide the desired feedback. I already wear a similar device, a Jawbone Up, that tracks my steps. There are others out there. Google Glass records everything you see–a feature that has seen it outlawed in some bars and other public establishments. The Nike + sensor tracks your footfalls, and at the higher end of the spectrum, cyber replacement limbs are moving towards brain-based control.
This is only a 10 minute response, so I am not going to break down the pros and cons here. The post is to acknowledge that it is coming.