Human Augmentation SIP

Annex B – Technology review

Yoga and meditation

Yoga and meditation are based on conscious control over body and mind. Such methods

are used to improve mood, tolerance to pain, ability to manage stress, and to reduce

anxiety. Similarly, mindfulness and associated breathing techniques can be used to

gain focus and reduce distraction. Regular practice of these methods can have positive

effects and technology could play a role in identifying the most effective techniques for

each individual. These techniques could also have military application, for example, yoga

has been shown to improve the quality of sleep in the military population and breathing

techniques can improve awareness and decision-making during tactical operations. The

use of these techniques by the military though is not without controversy.^108

Status monitoring

Technology to monitor an individual’s physiology is becoming mature and wearable

technologies already allow significant quantities of data to be collected. Technology in this

area is, however, improving rapidly, and wearables and smart textiles are likely to lead to

further improvements in the quantity, quality and precision of data collected. Combining

data collection with the ability to analyse and interpret it, for example, by using artificial

intelligence, is likely to lead to significant insights into how human performance can be

enhanced.

Technology could be used to monitor, in real time,

an individual’s combat readiness. Their level of

sleep deprivation, nutrition and hydration state, to

name a few areas, could all be monitored in real

time, as could their levels of fitness. Regardless

of the application, however, reference data will

need to be collected and tools for analysis,

including algorithms, will need to be developed if

the potential of monitoring technologies is to be

realised. Appropriate infrastructure will also need

to be developed so that data can be collected and

stored efficiently and securely.

Section 6 – Health

Human augmentation is also expected to play a major role in improving health care. For

example, by helping to prevent illness, treat injuries and illnesses as they occur, and to

support general physical and mental well-being throughout life. Technologies of particular

relevance include active prosthesis, accelerated healing, mental health recovery, slowing

ageing and age-related impairments, and life extension. Technology will also have a major

role in improving the testing and assessment of risk factors including pre-symptomatic

and predictive testing.

108 Kreplin, U., et al., (2018), Scientific Reports, ‘The limited prosocial effects of meditation: A systematic

review and meta-analysis’; Joshi, A.V., (2019), Warrior Pose: Building Readiness through Resilience—Yoga

and Meditation in the Military; Grossman, D. and Christensen, L. W., (2008), On Combat. The Psychology

and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace.