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All work and no play
makes lack a dull
The
computer
ization of
society might
come at the
price of our
humanity
Erickson
w
e are “Hugh,” right? As much as we
like to think we are unique, time
and technology are tinning us into
“One of Five.” I’m referring to an
episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in
which the Starship Enterprise takes on board an
injured Borg. The Borg are a collective, and their
prime objective is to assimilate new cultures into
their hive and transform them, through a myriad
of implants, into Borgs.
The crew of the Enterprise studied their cap
tive and, over time, one of the crew members de
veloped a relationship with the Borg, resulting in
a sort of individuality previously unknown in the
Borg who begins to refer to himself as Hugh.
The notion of melding mind and machine is as
exciting to some as it is horrifying to others. How
ever, this is no futuristic notion. Currently, there
are a number of devices and prosthetics, which
are being used today to overcome things such as
deafness or the loss of a limb. Pacemakers, re
placement joints and digital hearing aids are fairly
common. However, the goal of scientists studying
“neural prosthetics and interfacing” is to find a
way to seamlessly and safely apply machine to
man.
in tne plans is a new hearing aid which works
by snaking hair-thin wires deep into the brain
stem; a micro-chip implant for the hands of police
officers, which, coupled with the proposed
“smart guns,” will keep officers from being shot
by their own weapons; and, for the sight im
paired, there is the possibility of having elec
trodes implanted into the visual cortex to stimu
late the rods and cones and whatnot. Some of
these ideas seem very science fictional and, al
though they sound improbable, may actually be
applicable within the next century.
Implants and other “add-ons” can be integral in
helping those with disabilities; however, once
these prosthetics become commonplace, what is
to keep people from voluntarily augmenting their
bodies?
For instance, there has been some talk about be
ing able to work on your home computer using
brain waves, receive e-mail in your ear and virtu
ally browse cyberspace through your own eyes.
There are those who not only think this is possi
ble, but they believe it.
Technology has been, in the past, feared as
much as revered. Today, however, technology is
so friendly and fuzzy, especially the technology
most people see everyday — their computers. PCs
are now so easy to use, and they help us to see the
world and meet people.
We talk to and through our computers. We love
our computers. But do we want to be our comput
ERAJN
.1
i BIO.
ers? It is surprising how quickly information and
connection have become a part of our daily lives.
Cell phones, pagers, e-mail, laptop computers,
faxes — all these things keep us in touch with
people every hour of every day. I’m surprised
more people aren’t completely annoyed with the
invasion of privacy.
Nonetheless, these things are now common
place and accepted. Now, what if we could make
our bodies transducers of this information? We
could have miniature cell phones implanted in
our ears with wires connecting directly to the
brain stem and then when we get a call, we could
listen and just think our responses back. No need
to even interrupt a meeting for an important call.
It would be wonderful — so easy and safe.
Then, when I start cloning myself, I can just get
special transmitting implants to connect myself to
my adoring daughters so that they can learn to
grow up just like me and have all my special inter
ests.
That way I don’t have to obsess about what
kind of soul they are going to have because it will
be perfect — just like mine. And, I’ll always know
when they break curfew.
But, I digress. If you surf the web today you will
find a lot of people out there who think that the
majority of us are already Borgs. These people
suggest that the World Wide Web works as a sort
of neural net, and e-mail represents the direct line
of communication.
Whether true or not, it is destroying face-to-face
human interaction. Already, we have adapted to
understanding that e-mail cannot present sar
casm, wit or any other emotion very well. We
move around it, and we use things called emo
tions. By further connecting our bodies with ma
chines, we can only become further dettached
from our bodies and our humaneness.
While we are not going to become copies of the
Terminator anytime soon, science is steadily
marching towards that similarity. However, it is
impossible to tell exactly what effect this will
have on humanity; thus, we must wait and see.
So, impress your friends: Be the first Borg on your
block.
Amanda Erickson, a columnist for the Emerald, is
a senior majoring in Journalism. Her opinions do
not necessarily represent those of the paper. E
mail: aericks@gladstone
READER VOICES
What is one thingyour ticket will work for if voted into office as ASUO president and vice president?
“[I will] end the domi
nance of emotional,
teary-eyed optimism
in an office which
should be reserved
for clear thinkers and
humble ambitions.”
Sal 2000
“I promise I'll fight as
hard as I could [for
student interests].”
Andrew Oberriter
“Our focus is to
make [the ASUO]
for every single stu
dent.”
Bill Miner
“We would like to im
plement a tram system
to transport students
along the bike paths
and across the river.”
Brandon Lee Smith
“We'd go for the
jugular. That library
is going to [stay]
open until 12."
Brad Smith
“We want a Campus
Watch program.
Then hopefully
crime on campus
will go down.”
Ryan Ositis
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