The future for mankind, part 2: Meet the insideables

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about some of the theories that have been doing the rounds about the next stages of evolution for humans – and technology. It’s clearly a compelling topic for many people (thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts) and also a fairly divisive one. For each person who is cheering on the impending arrival of our future robot colleagues, there is another who is concerned about what advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will ultimately mean for our own consciousness, or our future as a species.

Whichever views you subscribe to here, it seems to me that we are in a more privileged position than some – or perhaps all – of our ancestors. The dinosaurs didn’t have the luxury of tracking asteroid strikes, monitoring volcanic activity, or Googling “nuclear winter” after all, did they?

I’m making light of what I recognise is a weighty topic. And I know that nobody really knows for sure what happened to the dinosaurs... But very few people enjoy contemplating fundamental change (if you don't believe me, try going through a merger, or taking a favourite item off the menu in the staff canteen). And, in effect, that is what some of the theories are pointing to – saying that, as technologies continue to progress, we will inevitably evolve to merge with them as some kind of new, human-cyber being.

Wait a minute! We might enjoy those movies and games where evil alien races and monstrous hybrids slug it out with plucky earthlings, but ponder our own transformation into something other than Homo sapiens? That's a different story.

But what if blurring the lines between the biological and cyber spheres will be to our advantage? What if advanced technologies could help us be smarter, or more resilient? Would anyone complain then?

Enthusiasts are already visiting tattoo parlours to have microchips implanted. These small radio frequency identification (RFID) chips can simplify their daily lives, by making tap-and-go payments, or opening home or office doors electronically.

What's more, if we look into the current research and development in this area, there are some really interesting possibilities being explored. Take healthcare – a massive concern and a massive issue for many people around the world.

What if we were able to use technology to immediately scan patients for their blood type, or monitor and help treat some of the most dangerous chronic health conditions and diseases? This is where the “insideables” come in. Not to be confused with The Incredibles - although you could say they're also undercover superheroes - these devices can be ingested or implanted inside the body, or placed just under the skin.

There are many potential use cases, both in and beyond healthcare (and not just in humans. Have a look at Draper’s DragonflEye, which could play an important role in the future of guided pollination, or reconnaissance, just as one example).

Back in the medical world, a research team at the University of California at Berkeley is developing wireless, implantable sensors so tiny they are being called “neural dust”. The aim is to sense and stimulate the nervous system, record and transmit data from inside the body, and ultimately not only monitor health, but also treat brain disorders like epilepsy as “electroceutical” therapies.

Another example is the glucose-measuring contact lens being developed by Google’s life sciences unit Verily, and Novartis. Although plans for testing have still to be confirmed and there have been murmurs about whether the device is really viable, if the project succeeds it could be life-changing for diabetes patients.

So really, far from turning us into nightmare cyborgs or attempting to create a new superior race, the insideables could signpost a move to what is arguably an improved version of what we are today.

What are your thoughts?

Photo credit: Engineering Medicine