Human Augmentation SIP

the potential to impact every facet of our lives and even change the meaning of what it
means to be a human. It could challenge philosophical concepts, our belief systems, and
ethical and legal frameworks in ways that we have not anticipated. This publication will
cover all these issues in outline but, in the interests of the intended audience, its focus
will be on the implications for society and Defence. For the purposes of this publication,
human augmentation does not include leadership and excludes technologies that bestow
capabilities not directly linked to existing human function (for example, flying).

Method

The project used a scenario-based approach to explore implications out to a 2050
horizon as shown in the figure below. Step one involved an initial analysis of influence
factors and investigative research. From this a framework was produced to identify
drivers, disruptors, risks, dependencies and key factors. Step two used these factors
to construct a range of future scenarios to explore possible societal, technological,
economic, political and military implications. Step three used focused questions within
each scenario to conduct a series of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats) analyses, the results of which were cross-referenced to identify implications for
society and Defence. Further detail on the methodology can be found at Annex A.

Project methodology

Possibilities/risks

Disruptors Enablers/disablers

Prerequisites

incentiveDriver/

Analyse human

augmentation framework

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Investigative

research

(Explore)

Identify

influence

factors

(Analyse)

Key

factors

(Analyse)

Focused

questions

Implications:

Political

Economic

Societal

Technological

Military

Explore Analyse

Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7Future

scenario 7

SWOT

analysis(strengths, SWOT

weaknesses,

opportunities

and threats)

Defence

implications

Society

implications+