| From: | "Dylan Norhtup (PHY)" <norhtup@*****.CAS.USF.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Article.cyber.doc |
| Date: | Sun, 11 Jul 1993 00:49:31 -0400 |
began in the mid 1980s with the first successful mechanical heart
operation few imagined the heights to which medical technology in
general and the field of cybernetics specifically would reach. How
could they envision nanotechnology that would allow fully
functional cybernetic prosthesis or mechanical analogs to the
body's own organs? These advances have certainly affected the
modern world and have had a drastic effect in shaping out
society into the world that is the modern world."
{Excerpted from "Popular Science", Nov.2053, pp 201}
Please.
I do tire of this pop science claptrap that the masses of
pseudo-intellectuals consume like so much cotton candy. Indeed, the
cotton candy metaphor is most appropriate: this information has very
little actual substance and if one consumes too much they will surely get
a mental analogue to an headache. The point to the above article (If this
article may be said to have a point) seems to be that cybernetics has
revolutionised the world in which we exist. While this is undeniably true
this paints a picture that while not directly mentioned is certainly
implied. That picture is of every person walking around with two datajacks
and artificial hands on each arm.
This is simply not true. The simple fact is cybernetic replacement is
very rare.
Less than 3% of the population has any cybernetic or bionetic
augmentation or modification. Of this number fully 70% of the operations
are for medical purposes (Note: cybernetic modification for "fashion"
reasons which have no actual medical reason of benefit have not been
considered in these tabulation. While these numbers verge on significant
I do not actually consider the operations themselves to be revolutionary
or society changing (as the article claims) but merely more advanced forms
of the coloured contact lens and superiour forms of nail polish.)
>>>>>[Say, Doc, when you say "verge on significant" what does
that
actually mean? I mean, how much do the numbers actually change?]<<<<<
-- Angel <07:54:23/07-09-54>
>>>>>[Well the total percentage of thepopulation with cyberware figuring
in the number of cosmetic modifications and implants jumps to about 5%.
If we add this number to the number of rep[placement/augmentations for
medical reasons the number jumps to a little over 80%.]<<<<<
-- Doc X <03:45:34/07-12-54>
Almost all of the remaining 30% of the operations are conducted by
corporations on their research professors (blood filtration systems, gas
ventilation systems), Construction teams (muscle augmentations, GC7
glandular modification), corporate matrix personell and high-level
personal secretaries (audio/video recorders and head ware memory).
To say that these operations do not occur on a regular basis is
indeed incorrect, to say the least. But do not believe that every
receptionist that you meet at the front desk is recording you with her
implanted eyes. It is far more cost efficient to use mounted 2D and
trideo cameras than it is to install cybereyes in a body that works eight
hours a day with coffee breaks, a lunch hour and an annual one week
vacation. The cameras have the benefit of being there all day and all
night, they never leave the building (or the company for that matter), and
they are a lot harder to distract than said secretary. Multiple cameras
may be installed for the same price of one operation to replace normal
eyes with cybereplacements.
Now for that personal secretary who accompanies Mr. Big-san
everywhere that he goes cyber eyes/ears with memory dedicated to storage
of A/V data is just the thing for documenting meetings and taking
dictation. But realise that these secretaries are few and far between.
Similarly, very few scientists will have precautionary blood
filtration systems implanted into their systems. Many prefer to simply
follow standardised safety procedures such as wearing biochem s\uits and
working with toxic vapours in hoods. Very few choose to have the operation
performed upon them.
>>>>>[And you chose the right word there, Doc. These top corp scientists
do actually get to choose. Your average kylie works as a wage slave and
gets told "For that promotion you need a datajack, at least 200 Mp of
headware, a food processor, the car jack to a 29 Jackrabbit, ..... Oh you
don't have it? Well we'll review you application and get back to you."
From here there are three choices: (in increasing order of probability)
Kylie stays at her present position, the corp helps Kylie pay for her car
jack implementation, or Kylie soon has to find another job. Rough, man.
Really rough]<<<<<
-- Stan the Can-can man <05:12:09/07-15-54>
>>>>>[Those who are helped by the company are generally very thankful to
the company.]<<<<<
-- Grace <23:14:19/07-17-54>
>>>>>[For those unfortunates who do not get accustomed to the neural
headnets don't have much of a chance on getting a 1-year evaluation.]<<<<<
-- Dickens <03:17:56/07-18-54>
>>>>>[On a side note, those who gain a lot of faciliity with the headnets
are usually tagged as likely prospects for a datajack. After an
observation period and aptitude training, a decision is made. Some are
promoted; many aren't. This is how many a corporate decker is born.]<<<<<
-- The Avon Lady <07:41:20/07-20-54>
Many other top-level positions have associated with them other
replacements/modifications: Security Guard, Construction Forman, and
upper level executives (though for these the enhancements are more of a
status symbol than a tool to ne used on the job).
However it must be stressed that no corporation will invest in any
employee that has not already shown to his employer that he/she is loyal,
valuable, and will have their abilities significantly improved by the
enhancement. Also taken into consideration: can the same effect be
acheived without cybernetic or bionetic operation using other technology?
If so, the corp would likely take that option unless there were
extenuating circumstances (though this is exceedingly rare).
For the remaining amount od cyber and bioware out there you have
to thank no one other than yourselves, the shadow community. Though they
are rare operations paid for by individuals is not illegal.
So there you have it: 95% of the population with no cyber/bioware;
2.1% of the population with medically necessary implants and modifications;
.85% of the population with corporate approved cyber and bioware; and .05%
of the population with other cyberware and bioware.
-- Doc X
P.S. Feel free to repost within the article. That's why the call this
interaction
