Biophysics: Bionics

This week we covered bionics for those who have lost limbs or full musculoskeletal function of their bodies.

Would you support the development of a bionic person?
Yes, absolutely. The articles we covered in class were inspiring, these stories of huge-hearted people who were driven to help those who want full use of their bodies. From athletes to children, everyone deserves a chance to use their minds and bodies to their full abilities. There was a lot of discussion in class about the possible shadow side of this technology, but we can't get hung up on pessimistic maybes - foretelling the future is not a skill I have, nor would I want it. The technology is a tool, and in the hands of unscrupulous people it may become a weapon. But for now, the potential benefits to humankind outweigh the potential for bad.

Would your view change if this were for a military purpose?
'Military purpose' was probably intentionally vague. I'd support the technology, regardless. For healing soldiers, or for building super-soldiers. Of course it can go dark. But again, I can't predict what may happen nor do I want to speculate on the evils humans may indulge in. As we spoke of in class, maybe the time has come for a collaboration between man and machine.

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