Annex B – Technology reviewto generate cognitive improvement. An understanding of the foundational working
mechanisms of both the technology and the human body is necessary for effective and
safe augmentation. Thus, research efforts which aim to investigate and document the
effects of even well-established substances are warranted. This is particularly important
in the context of precision medicine (the optimisation of health measures on an individual
basis).
Research in other fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, will also have
an impact on the development of human augmentation. Whilst there is no evidence (yet)
that superhuman cognitive ability can be achieved biomedically, collaboration with artificial
intelligence shows promise. The right (brain-computer) interfaces could allow certain
mental tasks to be offloaded to computers. For example, numerical calculations and
simulations could be triggered by thought and the results made mentally available;
although, the effectiveness of such collaboration depends both on the suitability of tasks
and how open-ended the system is.
Advancements in four related fields of technology,
known collectively as nanotechnology, biology,
information technology, and cognitive science
(NBIC) are expected to converge, and ultimately
unify, leading to radical improvements in human
performance through the integration of these
technologies. The combination of precision
medicine, nutrition, and training could open
up entirely new possibilities. For example,
in bodybuilding and powerlifting, focus on
optimising the training routines are also being matched with nutrition and sleep regimes
to achieve the greatest combined effect possible. Effort in these areas is likely to open up
possibilities to improve the performance of the group as well as the individual.
The key to developing effective human augmentation is an improved understanding of
how both the body and technology work and how they work together. This will require
access to, and analysis of, personal data: whether it is psychophysiological variables,
collection of personal reference data, analysis of medical markers, or supervision of
training routines. Only if these building blocks are put in place, will there be enough
understanding to ensure that human augmentations can be made precisely and with
certainty that the desired effect will be achieved. Only when (or if) this happens will the
science of human augmentation arrive.
Predicting the future is challenging. Initially promising solutions may reach dead ends and
attitudes towards new technology will affect rate of acceptance within society. As there
are legal, ethical and safety issues to consider during development, the time from initial
design to implementation is often long in the field of biotechnology.