DIY Implant?

I've been thinking a lot about implantable computers, and I'm fairly certain that for the brave few among us who actually dare to modify (somewhat prematurely, technologically speaking I'm sure) are in a unique position in history to actually develop our own implants.

What inspired me to actually write about this is an article that I read in H+ Magazine called, "Scrapheap Transhumanism," Where the writer of the article encouraged the reader to "be stupid like him" and jump into body modification. While I can't endorse his haphazard approach, or obviously attention-seeking choice of terminology (He describes "Carving Cavities" in his fingers, in reality I think most people understand that implantation is usually accomplished not by "carving" but by careful "punch and pocket" operations just under the skin.) At any rate, I wondered if there was a place in this DIY body modification scene for someone a little more cautious, like me.

What I found was an incredible array of industries that, while they don't market to the DIY-er, they are most certainly available, and in combination, could allow for the development of some very advanced implantable applications. Let me explain.

First off, there is a surge of DIY circuit building and programming information on the internet. Websites such as SparkFunElectronics (A personal favorite of mine) are offering small orders (as few as 1 piece) of surface mount ICs for what may be the first time in history (I was certainly never able to find them before) They also have an incredible library of free coding and circuit diagrams as well as a fantastic community. As far as actually developing the computer itself, on a scale that is actually implantable, this is the ticket. There are also a variety of prototyping services that are happy to build your custom circuit design and ship it to you at a relatively affordable cost.

Once you have a computer or a peripheral of some type that you'd like to implant, the problem is making in bio-compatible and safe to implant. Luckily, there are companies on the internet whose sole purpose is to coat whatever you send them in materials such as Parylene. A Bio-compatible, Bio-Stable material which is FDA approved in most medical applications, including mid to long term implantation, Parylene is applied as a gas in a process that does not require a solvent or plasticizer and results in a chemical film that is free form pinholes. Best of all, companies such as SCS Coating Services Will spray just about anything in the stuff for the right price.

Okay now it's bio-compatible, all we need to do is clean it and install it. Anyone who has been to a piercing shop knows that anything that goes through the skin needs to be seriously sterilized. For years, the ultimate form of sterilization was Autoclave. An Autoclave sterilizes items by subjecting them to a high-pressure, saturated steam at temperatures upwards of 120degrees. This is obviously not the appropriate approach for the sterilization of delicate electrical equipment. Luckily, there is a solution! In the form of a poisonous and explosive gas, the best kind of solution, let me explain. (EO) or Ethylene Oxide gas is the simplest epoxide, it's a strong poison to humans and the main component of thermobaric weapons, but more importantly for us "It is also a common gas-phase disinfectant which is widely used in hospitals to sterilize heat-sensitive tools and equipment." Aside from that, it's also widely used to disinfect brand new body-jewelry and almost all disposable piercing needles and surgical blades. There are a variety of companies of the internet who will EO-Gas Sterilize any item you send them for the right price, with a little communication, these services are open to anybody.

Now your instrument has been built, bio-coated and sterilized... the next thing you need to do is have it installed. Now, this can be a little difficult, for the most part you wont ever find a surgeon willing to implant an untested, non-approved "medical device." But luckily for you, there are plenty of people who are trained to insert foreign bodies under the skin who aren't restricted by medical practices: Piercing techs! That's right, the same people responsible for the gauged-ear freak generation often have experience implanting small devices. As long as it will rest just under the skin, it's well within their range of expertise. In fact, the "Transdermal Implant" has become a popular piercing to give the effect that a piece of jewelry is floating on the body with no support. You may have to take your work to quite a few piercing shops before you find one that's willing to do it, but be polite and patient, explain what it is you're trying to accomplish, and (perhaps most importantly) show up with your device still sealed with it's certificate of EO-Sterilization. Most piercers won't guarantee their work implanting devices that they have no experience with, but if you're willing to pay them what they think is fair, and if you're willing to accept responsibility and liability for the possible migration/rejection of the device, they'll usually pop it right in for you.

There you go! Now it's time to show off!

Food for thought anyway.

What does it mean to be a Transhumanist?

Tonight I dived the net looking for other H+ communities to get involved with, link up to. But what I found was a little disappointing.

I'm afraid that the true Transhumanists in this world don't realize that that's what they are, and that the people who call themselves transhumanists are really sci-fi nerds (not that there's anything wrong with that *too early in blog to burn bridges*) or they're some sort of weird pseudo-scientist... or worse... a techno-philosopher. At any rate, I thought it might be beneficial to discuss ere what an actual Trans-humanist stands for, both for the benefit of anyone who may help the H+ cause and in order to save my own name as an active Trans-humanist.

First of all, what do Trans-humanist believe? According to Wikipedia.org, a Trans-humanist is someone who

"...support the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics and capacities. The movement regards aspects of the human condition, such as disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death as unnecessary and undesirable."

By that definition, most progressives are Trans-humanists, Most people in fact. The terms science and technology cover a wide range of things such as vaccines, medicines and nutritional supplements which are used by a vast and growing number of people every day to improve their mental and physical capacities. Not to mention, it's probably safe to say that the better part of the population would like to eradicate all instances of, "disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death."

So where does a Trans-humanist really differ from the rest of society? The answer lies in the word itself: TransHumanist. While the general population may use science and technology to maintain or improve their health, they adhere to a definition of "health" that most Trans-humanists would find unacceptable. We (Trans-humanists) hope to be healthier than a "healthy" human, which still falls ill or is injured quite easily. We hope to, one day, be better that human, beyond human, Posthuman. In the mean time, however, we are only Transhuman, in the "in-between" stage, the adolescence of posthumanism. Before I scare you away though, hear me out.

We're not all talking about people walking around with robot arms capable of lifting cars and cybernetic eyes that can see for miles (although we all support the right of anyone who wishes to do so) Here's the basic outline of the H+ Platform:

1) Any scientific research that could result in the development of technologies which may be beneficial to people should not be hindered by government (and by extension, religion). This includes bio research (such as cloning and stem-cell research), nano-research (such as nano-computing and nano-structures), neurochemical research, cognition study, communications research and cybernetic research. (Within the realm of Scientific Ethics, of course)

2) People have the right to do anything to their own bodies that they want. Many basic body modifications are ruled as "Self-Mutilation" in some state law.

3) Human Rights are top priority, as well as the preemptive campaign for "PostHuman" rights. (Including the right to seek medical treatment and the right to wear and use implanted devices)

In a broad manner of speaking, a competitive athlete is a trans-humanist. Athletes monitor their diets and activity levels and take special interest in their health and hygiene in order to boost performance.

Here is a list of Technologies that Trans-humanists commonly endorse:

- Life extension
- Cybernetics
- Bio-mechanical engineering
- Nano-structures and computing
- Communication Technology
- Genetic Research
- Prosthetic Research and Design
- Neurology
- Psychology
- Pharmacology

Now that you pretty well understand the view of the H+ Movement, you may be wondering to yourself why anyone would stand against it. In my experience, opposition comes from three sources: Scientific Skepticism, Religious Contradiction and what I personally call the "Leave good-enough alone" argument.

Scientific Skepticism of Trans-humanist ideals is a common type of opposition to the movement. Skeptics believe (some scientists, some not) that the H+ Movement has fallen victim to a phenomenon known as "future hype" whereby the movement interprets recent technological development as evidence of accelerated change and over-estimates technological advancement in the future. While it is true that there is a "fringe" element to the movement, with many (usually less educated) members making grandiose claims about the state of humanity in the next 50 or so years, the majority of trans-humanists are interested only in the technology of today and how to develop in in the right direction. I personally find that the lion's share of unfounded scientific claims or over-hyped technological predictions belong to the "Life-extension" sub-community (more especially those concerned with immortality) These groups are very susceptible to their own psychology. They fear death and so they subconsciously pad the numbers, hoping that the technologies that they prophecy will one day save them from that fear. In other words, life-extensionists and immortalists are prone to predicting vast and unprecedented technological development within their natural life-times. This phenomenon does add to the outside observations of "future-hype" tendencies.

Religion may be the largest (partially) unified opposition to Trans-humanism. Many religions, world-wide, hold it as truth that human-kind was "created." Not only that, but they believe that taking that design into our own hands is blasphemous or sacrilegious in some way. Often times it is cited that "God made us in his own image" and that "In order to make a more perfect human, you would have to assume the existence of a more perfect God, which is (of course) unthinkable." These types of arguments are rarely worth fighting. People who look to the views and opinions of civilizations which failed and who had no point of reference for moral decision making in the type of society in which we live currently, are obviously severely reactionary. Worse, those who look to the words of others as opposed to their own opinions are idiots. Trying to discuss any progressive policy with them is going to be a waste of time for either party. However, in the event that unfounded belief or outdated moral codes should interfere with the betterment of humanity (medical research for instance) then it is every person's duty to fight against such decisions.

Finally, "Leave Good-Enough Alone," or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," The idea that the human condition is at it's most optimal state currently and that any further attempts at perfecting it will simply be superfluous and cumbersome, or in some views, damaging. This is, in my own opinion, alarmingly short-sighted. While your life may be satisfactory, there are millions on this planet that are not. Furthermore, to think that we haven't already use technology to alter mankind for the better is a complete fallacy. Immunization, for instance, altering the internal record of our immune system to prepare in in case of attack from specific, life-threatening diseases. Or any type of medical technology whatsoever, if you've ever taken an aspirin for a headache, you've used technology and scientific research to improve the quality of your life. It's obvious that the human model will continue to work on this planet for a long time, but working and exceeding are two different concepts. In order for the most people to live truly happy lives, science and technology cannot be hindered.

I feel it is important to mention that the term Science and Technology is not meant to undermine the importance of psychology (which is a science, after all) or any other research which isn't generally perceived as "progressive." Even though the H+ movement is defined by the desire to be more than human, the most basic tenant could be thought of as the "ruggedization" of humanity, in order that it might survive the test of time better. In a way, by becoming Post-human, we hope to preserve the essence of mankind. With that, I'll end this rant.

More on this subject later, but first, a few things Trans-Humanist activists may consider:

- Lobby for Scientific Research, protest any hindrance to legitimate development.
- Refrain from the use of the word "Humanity" to describe positive personal attributes, this was only accurate by default when used in opposition to the term "Animal" (A folly in and of itself, but with philosophical merit) And Post-humans, people will be forced to shed their "humanity" by definition, but they will still be expected to be personal, philosophical, sympathetic, etc. Perhaps a more appropriate term is "Personality"
- As an elaboration on the last point, keep in mind that right now all "people" are "humans" and vice-versa. In the future this may not be the case, remember that part of your agenda is to preserve the rights of a group which wishes to be recognized as "non-human"
(All humans are people, but not all people are human, some are posthuman (whether cyborg or biomorph). Looking further ahead, some "people" may even be completely artificial "Turing Positive" machines)
- Get in the habit of taking care of your tech. One day it will have to take care of you.

Goodnight all.

Headset Displays: The cornerstone of convenient 'wearability'

Headset Displays, also known as HMDs (Head Mounted Display) are easily the most recognizable icon of the "cybernetically enhanced" and they've been around for a long time. But as micro display technology grows and advances in new display mediums such as OLED start to surface, head mounted displays are becoming more affordable than ever.

For the serious Wear-Geek, a few companies build super hi-res headsets in both monocular and full goggle models. These are, of course, obscenely expensive.

The Eyeneo EyeTop is probably the more "slick looking" models of monocular headset (if you wear your sunglasses at night) and sells for a cool $1400. The only downside (other than the fact that you'll need to take out a second mortgage to balance over a grand on your face?) is that the

resolution is sub standard. The Eyetop is marketted as a "Viewfinder" which is probably how they get away with QVGA (or one-quarter VGA resolution, that's 240x360 or 1/4 of your Standard Definition TV)

Another option, a little more conservative (both financially and stylistically), is the Vuzix M920-

Video. The great thing about this

headset is that it's obviously stable, a little more lightweight, and you could wear it in conjunction with any other eyewear you may choose. Best of all, at full VGA quality (640x480) That's almost usable! It includes cable to connect it to almost any standard def. video

source (S-Video, Composite, VGA). Still with a price tag of $1000, it makes you a little uneasy about wearing it

out.

In my opinion, the future of wearable displays is going to look a little more like this. The MicroOptical CV-3. Unfortunately discontinued (Undoubtedly due to it's laughable $2150 price tag) This versatile, compact unit could be attached to any glasses or goggles, lasted 5 hrs on a single charge and displayed full color, full VGA video at 60 fps.

All of these industrial-strength optical products are great, but the price tag is entirely unwarranted, and if you want the proof, just read on and I'll give you a taste of what affordable looks like. If you have the money to spend on those units though, you can buy them at Tekgear.

So, here we go on an Ebay shopping spree. But the first thing we need to do is figure out what to search for. Few people have a couple of old "HMDs" They're looking to throw out. But wait... People are obsessed with iPods and portable video players... And lo and behold a couple of good honest Chinese manufacturers have come to capitalize on that obsession. I give to you, another close facsimile to the HMD: "Video Glasses"

Video Glasses are also called virtual theaters or personal viewers, are sort of a slimmed down commercial-grade version of the same displays we just discussed. The main difference is that, because they're goal is full-immersion, they are binocular. There are a few ways to deal with this: personally, I like binocular, you can wear them on your head like sunglasses until you need to search something, then they're right there. Or, if you like to be able to surf and walk, why not add a cheapo camera for some augmented reality fun? Finally, I suppose you could always hack the damn thing in half (carefully) and make a monocular unit.

The Cheapos! This is a unit available for under $100 (I know right?) Let's have a look. It's fairly stylish, in comparison to the more robust units. They claim an impressive 8-9 hours of continual use on a single charge... Ah, here we go, QVGA resolution. And that's gonna be your problem with anything under $100. At that resolution, reading text clearly will be impossible in most cases, but they're still fun to watch movies on, I'm sure...

The upper end of cheap... Here's a fairly nasty piece of tech for the money, and you'll recognize the name-brand: Vuzix (The same company that brought you the $1000 M920-Video) is cornering the commercial market with the WrAP920 Incuiti. So, what do they want for this ultra-sleek, wraparound design? Looks like about $340 on eBay... yeah, it's expensive, but not a grand. And it boasts not only full VGA resolution, but a nice wide field of view and full 3d support (that's right, it actually has two full VGA displays in it that can be fed independently.) A nice toy, a little expensive though...

Finally, bang for your buck! The Myvu Crystal Video Glasses take the cake for me. They're going for around $120 to $200 on eBay and boast full VGA resolution. Also, they have integrated earbuds for sound and their style is unstoppable in my book. They look fairly lightweight as well.

So there you go, a $120 dollar solution to a $2100 product, leave it to China...

I'll post back next time with INPUT devices, the next big building block in wearability.

Till then, I'll be watchin' the net...

-NP

Hello! And Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog. Here we'll explore the future of technological integration, from the presently practical (such as wearable computing) to the advanced and invasive (implant/cyborg theory).

But first, a brief introduction. My name's Nick. I'm a college student in Roanoke, Va. Ever since I can remember I've had a knack for computer science. When I was quite young, I was already obsessed with trying to find ways to make computers work for people. I built little robots and played with computer programming up until I was in high school and then I realized, as I saw the advent of advanced mobile technology in the form of "Smartphones," that the most valuable work that can be done in computing is in improving the way people and machines interact. The computer processor may be one of the most incredible and versatile tools in history, but nobody will use it to its full potential if it's hard to use.

Another factor of influence for me is information technology and communication theory. There are thousands of GB of data flying around your head all of the time in the form of microwaves from cell phones and cell modems, radio waves from broadcast stations, WiFi connections and hobby radio operators, satellite data or GPS and television, even invisible IR light. Imagine how much of your world you can't see, and imagine how much more connected you could be if you could just interpret all of this "invisible information"

Wearable computing is a big step in the right direction for either of these fields. The technology for a practical, wearable computer is here, and it came by way of the communications and entertainment industries. There are consumer level, commercially available products that, if combined in the right way, would make fine and usable wearable systems. Best of all, as people are born into this new era of communication, more people are learning that multi-tasking isn't just for the office and for the first time in history there's a demand for computer integration.

There's a movement, whether its conscious or not, towards transhumanism. People want and need to be more than just people. Now, more than ever, people are understanding that "plugging in" doesn't mean shying away from the world, it means opening up to the world. The net is global and vast and ever-growing and with all of that knowledge available at the push of a button, posthumans will be here soon, and they will be smarter than most because they will be as smart as all.

So join me in discussing the implications of our changing world.

-Nick P.