TIAch 2 ADean - journal PDF

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Human augmentation is the natural, artificial, or technological alteration of the human body, in order to enhance capabilities. Currently at MIT The Biomechatronics Group is developing a transtibial prostheses, this prosthesis will hopefully restore a component of biological ankle function for lower- extremity amputees. While this is being developed at MIT other human augmentation products are in the works all over the world. Cochlear implants, which would be considered replication of human ability, would restore hearing without having patients being required to wear an external hearing device. Something else currently in development is exoskeletons. Exoskeletons are wearable, mechanical devices that are worn outside of the body. They give the person wearing it artificial strength, the Sarcos Guardian is an industrial exoskeleton that has been developed that allows a worker to lift up to 200 pounds and perform repetitive motions without strain. Exoskeletons would be considered supplementation of human ability because an exoskeleton gives people the power to do tasks that normally would not typically be able to do very easily. Something else that researchers are hoping to develop is an artificial white blood cell, while it is not in production yet, Robert Freitas Jr. has explored this idea, while studying mammals like dolphins, whales, and others that hold their breath underwater. If made possible this would be the exceeding of human ability. While researching and thinking about what new human augmentation projects are in development I believe that bioprinting would be the most beneficial to mankind. Bioprinting is the process of creating tissue-like structures that imitate real bodily structures such as organs, bones, skin. This ability would completely revolutionize the healthcare system. Bioprinting can be integrated into the human body to replace damaged organs, thus allowing the patient to return to life as soon as possible. As bioprinting continues to progress and develop researchers believe they will be able to develop a fully functioning human heart from bioprinting, which would give people with heart conditions the ability to live life as normal as possible....