Human Augmentation SIP

Part 1 – Understanding human augmentation

Section 1 – Definitions

There are numerous and varied definitions surrounding human augmentation and most

focus on the concept of performance enhancement. Human augmentation includes

chemical, physical and biological augmentation and the modification of the human but, it

is not exclusively about adding ‘things’ to the human, it also includes applying scientific

insight to areas such as sleep management and personalised nutrition to improve

performance. This publication proposes a definition for human augmentation as: the

application of science and technologies to temporarily or permanently improve human

performance. This field can be further divided into human performance optimisation

and human performance enhancement. Human performance optimisation is the use of

science and technologies that improve human performance up to the limit of biological

potential without adding new capabilities. Human performance enhancement is the

use of science and technologies to enhance human performance beyond the limit of

biological potential and can include additional capabilities beyond those innate to humans

(for example, night vision).

Figure 1 illustrates that the delineation between human performance optimisation and

human performance enhancement is outcome-based. It is agnostic of technological

sophistication and whether the effects are temporary or permanent, invasive or

non-invasive. For example, binoculars have been around for nearly 200 years and passive

night vision devices for nearly 60 years – both are commonplace technologies, but offer

significant, albeit temporary, sight enhancement. Equally, laser eye surgery is only 35

years old, more sophisticated and permanent, but in most cases only optimises sight up

to the individual’s biological potential. Permanence and degree of invasiveness are also

important aspects of human augmentation and will be discussed later in this publication.

Noting that night vision goggles and binoculars are technically included in the definition of

human augmentation, this paper will focus mainly on the implications of novel science and

technology that are more closely integrated with the human body.

Part 2 – Human augmentation technology

Limit of biological

potential

Human augmentation

Human performance

optimisation

Human performance

enhancement

Glasses Contact

lenses

Laser eye

surgery

Binoculars Night vision

goggles

Gene-edited for

enhanced sight