Human Augmentation SIP

Part 2 – Human augmentation technologies

Section 6 – Employment considerations

Discussion of technology in isolation is necessary to understand what is possible but it will
be the practical, ethical, legal and social viability that fundamentally informs its usability.
Understanding potential side effects and interactions with other aspects of human
performance, task, organisation and environment will be key to assessing the benefits of
human augmentation and informing further research and experimentation. For example,
improved body armour increases resilience to blast, fragmentation and gunshots, but
reduces speed, manoeuvrability and situational awareness. The second order effects of
wearing body armour could, in some cases, negate the intended effects; the same could
be true for human augmentation technologies if the employment considerations in Figure
5 are not observed.

Figure 5 – Employment considerations

Section 7 – Feasibility assessment

By considering human augmentation technologies in terms of their current technical
maturity and the magnitude of policy considerations it is possible to get a broad sense of
opportunities for today and for the future. The matrix at Figure 6 illustrates the following
conclusions and at Figure 7 are estimated realisation timescales for various augmentation
technologies.

a. There are mature technologies, capable of delivering transformational effects,

that could be integrated today with manageable policy considerations.

Cost. Obsolescence could be even more important

in human augmentation than in computer science

because progress is likely to be quicker. Non-invasive

human augmentation will be challenging enough to

keep updated but implanted technologies will be a

more complex matter. This will be a key factor in

lifecycle cost.

Legitimacy. Technologies may be temporarily

used on a ‘need to know’ basis for certain

tasks or specific phases in life. This will raise

questions about ownership, responsibility and

accountability.

Design. Design factors such as comfort and

degree of invasiveness can negatively affect

the willingness to adopt new technologies.

Whether the augmentation is reversible or not,

the ability to restore or return to a previous

level of functionality will be fundamental.

Dependency. Computations, signal

processing and physical output requires energy,

thereby creating critical dependencies

that could compromise effect or sustainability.

Communication interfaces imply a need for

connectivity, which makes software cyber

security essential.

Readiness. Augmentations that need to

be implemented ahead of time before the

effect is realised, whether in training or on

operations, will require careful planning and

an ability to monitor progress.

Safety. Implanted augmentations incur

medical risk and there may be side effects

that manifest long after safety certification has

been awarded. Balancing such risks with the

imperative to achieve the effect will be key.

Security. Augmentations may introduce new

or increased vulnerabilities. Data integrity and

ownership becomes increasingly important as

the possibility to capture and store potentially

sensitive information on a personal level is

necessary for optimal functionality.

Effect. Understanding the effect of

augmentations and balancing them against the

risk of undesirable consequences will be

essential for supporting ethical decision-making

for its use.