Future Human Evolution is an overarching term which discusses the ways in which the human race will evolve next. There are several theories of what the next step of evolution is for humanity. One theory for the future of human evolution is the cyborgization of the human. A cyborg (short for "cybernetic organism") is a theoretical or fictional being with both organic and biomechatronic parts. Mechanically augmenting the human body in order to improve various different aspects can very well be the future in human evolution. A philosophy many believe in, known as transhumanism, sees the human race taking their own evolution into their own hands, rising above biological limitations through technological means. In other words, unnatural selection may be future human evolution, rather than natural selection. Through human augmentation, the possibilities of improvement are endless. Prosthetics that can improve strength in various parts of the body, implants that can improve senses such as vision and hearing, and augments that can increase intelligence and brain power. All of these can be achieved through the future of human cyborgs. The director of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford, Nick Bostrom, said Darwinian evolution "is happening on a very slow time scale now relative to other things that are leading to changes in the human condition." For example: cloning, robotics, genetic enhancements, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology. Humanity's ability to self-evolve is close to surpassing natural evolution, and once that point is reached, human augmentation may be the future of human evolution. Ideas today that are shaping future evolution Science Fiction’s influence Science Fiction has been a powerful influence to the minds of great inventors for years. Popular media outlets such as superhero movies, futuristic literature, Sci-fi TV shows, all help build upon the growing world of Science Fiction knowledge. As a result there has been a growing number of investors putting money into projects for human enhancement that come straight from Science Fiction. The DEKA arm, codenamed Luke after Luke Skywalker’s artificial hand in The Empire Strikes Back, is one of the new revolutionary prosthetics that is slowly reaching the goal of being a fully functional replacement for someone who is missing a limb.With prosthetics already surpassing the functional ability of normal legs, exemplified by Oscar Pistorius, who arguably runs faster than 99% of the population without normal legs, the idea of seeing fully augmented limbs is an expected possibility in the future. This type of technology can, and more often than not, will be weaponized in the military, as types of exoskeletons are already being created. The TALOS armor for example, which is similar to Iron Man’s exo-suit, is intended to be bulletproof and give the user superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and perception. We may see in the future, exoskeletons that can lift cars with ease and travel faster than cars, which will have a wide variety of purposes, whether that be for the military, or for civilian aid services, such as firefighters. In addition to exoskeletons and prosthetics, work is being done that will promote self-healing. The implant called, ElectRx, will grant humans powers to become similar to the Hulk or Wolverine from the Marvel comics, as our own bodies will be stimulated through electrical pulses to promote accelerated healing. This technology may be an essential part in extending the human lifespan eternal life, and possibly finding ways to enable eternal life. Along with healing, implants and drugs are also being used to enhance memory, inhibit fear, and increase strength. It won’t be long before drugs like the NZT-48 from the movie Limitless or ALZ-112 from Rise of the Planet of the Apes, become real life drugs that will enhance intellectual functions, cure diseases, and empower individuals to become superhuman.
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