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Posted 09.21.2009

Human vs. cyborg: a vision of the future

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Ray: What is it? Another skin covered borg?

Tom: No borgs. NR introduced the first nanobots for blood streams. This is phase two. Radically different concept: no heart failure because no heart.

Ray: Great! Synthetic people. There goes the neighborhood.

Tom: Hey! You could write software. Some folks are going to want to be more artistic.

Stranger: Can I offer you guys some advice?

Ray: Go back to your corner and drink motor oil, T2000.

Stranger shrugs.

Suddenly, Ray grabs his beer mug and looks like he's going to swing it, when Tom intercedes.

Tom: Whoa, Ray! What are you doing? This is opportunity. People will always be people. Did you know only 5 percent of your cells have your DNA? How much different will you be without those organs?

Ray: You're right. Lost my head there. Five percent, huh?

Stranger: You guyz should dink about it...

Tom: Sure, cyborg can bring us in as consultants on upgrades.

Ray: Cool. You might be on to something!

Stranger: Arnold talked about soft technology and human techs when it all started. You guys should come in.

Tom: We could design lines for musicians and sturdier astronauts.

Ray: ... and work with ... borgs?

Stranger: I'll add perks. All the VR comfort you can stand.

Ray: Starting to like you, T2000.

Stanger: Name's Axelrod. Call me Rod ... Ax ...

Axelrod gives him a bone-crunching handshake.

Axelrod: Let's get some food, podner! You know, I got all of Arnold's memories... well, except for the Shriver ones.

Ray: Talk to me about the future.

Angst may be the forgotten element for future humans.

Will our race for innovation outstrip our capacity to deal with its social implications? Kurzweil paints a different picture, but we see opportunities for collaboration, particularly where artistic flair and a human touch is needed.

Will business opportunities trump the toll on humanity? Is Kurzweil a visionary, or perhaps a few fries short of a Happy Meal? We'd like to hear what you think.

Thomas Frey is the executive director and senior futurist at the DaVinci Institute and currently Google’s top-rated futurist speaker. At the Institute, he has developed original research studies, enabling him to speak on unusual topics, translating trends into unique opportunities.Before launching the DaVinci Institute, Tom spent 15 years at IBM as an engineer and designer where he received over 270 awards, more than any other IBM engineer.

Raymond Alvarez is a journalist, microblogger and emerging expert in social media. He is president and owner of Nextwave Communications, which provides cutting edge communication services to the Colorado business community. The Boulder County firm offers research, writing, strategic planning and analysis.

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