Bionics

Conclusion

The science of bionics is advancing at a fast rate.  The fusing together of human and machine is not yet allowing us to run at 60 miles per hour or crush a rock with our bare hands.  However, it is enabling the deaf to once again hear, the blind to regain at least partial sight and paraplegics to regain their mobility.

Research taking place in the USA has allowed bionic brain implants to be connected to the motor cortex (the part of the brain controlling movement), allowing a person to move a cursor on a computer purely through thought alone.

The implications of such technologies are not always welcome by some in society.  There are those among us who worry technology could be going too far into the realms of science fiction and taking a gamble with the lives of human beings, this is especially emotive where the human brain is concerned.  However, the benefits that bionics can bring to a disabled person surely must outweigh any drawbacks.

References

(BBC News Portal, 1998), BBC News Portal, Bionic Arm, 25 August, 1998 [online] Available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/154545.stm [accessed 07Jun06]

(Bruce, 1998) Bruce, I.S. (1998) Man Made, The Scotsman, December 1, Spectrum, cited in T209 Information and Communication Technologies: people and interactions, CD-ROM study guide, Module 4, ‘Bionics’, The Open University, Milton Keynes.

(Caidin, 1970) Caidin, Martin. Cyborg. New York, NY: Warner Books, 1970

(Jacobs, 1998) Jacobs, K. (1998) ‘Interactive: The Bionic Man Is Lurking Round The Corner’, Birmingham Post, November 17, cited in T209 Information and Communication Technologies: people and interactions, CD-ROM study guide, Module 4, ‘Bionics’, The Open University, Milton Keynes.

(Steele, 1960) Steele, J. E. (1960) "How Do We Get There?", Bionics Symposium: Living Prototypes--The Key to New Technology, September 13-15, 1960, WADD Technical Report 60-600.  Reference made to Steele’s work available from [online] http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/birs/bir76.htm [accessed 07Jun06]

Bibliography

A Toast to the Bionic Man, [online] Available from http://www.popsci.com/popsci/medicine/6123dc8a25076010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
[accessed 07Jun06]

BBC News Portal, [online] Available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/154545.stm [accessed 07Jun06]

Bionics, Wikipedia, [online] Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionics [accessed 08Jun06]

Bruce, I.S. (1998) Man Made, The Scotsman, December 1, Spectrum,

Caidin, Martin. Cyborg. New York, NY: Warner Books, 1970

HiResolution Bionic Ear System, [online] Available from http://www.cochlearimplant.com/ [accessed 08Jun06]

Jacobs, K. (1998) ‘Interactive: The Bionic Man Is Lurking Round The Corner’, Birmingham Post, November 17

Steele, J. E. (1960) "How Do We Get There?", Bionics Symposium: Living Prototypes--The Key to New Technology, September 13-15, 1960, WADD Technical Report 60-600. 

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