Human Augmentation SIP

Human augmentation is not a shortcut – getting the basics of human physiology,
biochemistry and psychology right is a prerequisite to human augmentation and will
become more important in the future. Research into human augmentation has shone a
stark light on how little we know about how to do the basics well. We need to do more
to understand the precise effects of nutrition, sleep and hydration, and their relationship
with other areas of the body to realise significant, yet untapped potential. Technology that
improves monitoring will make it possible to individually optimise sleep, nutrition and other
factors to deliver transformational gains across an organisation at relatively low cost and
limited ethical risk.

Human augmentation is not just tomorrow’s business, there are short-term and
long-term opportunities that require engagement today. The following matrix illustrates
the technical maturity and the magnitude of policy considerations of human augmentation
technologies. It shows that there are technologies that could be integrated today with
manageable policy considerations. The most transformative technologies (for example,
genetics and brain interfaces) currently sit at a low level of technological maturity but
we must be prepared for this to change quickly. Bioinformatics and collection and
analytics (encompassing sensors, artificial intelligence-enabled processing) are particularly
important enablers for other human augmentation technologies and warrant focused
research and development attention.

Conceptualising the human as a platform

Physical performance is the capability to affect the physical environment and move

within it. Strength, dexterity, speed and endurance are key components and there is

often a trade-off between them.

Psychological performance comprises

cognition, emotion and motivation. Cognition

is the mental action or process of acquiring

knowledge and understanding through

thought, experience and the senses. It

includes processes such as attention, the

formation of knowledge, long-term and

working memory, reasoning, problem solving

and decision-making. Emotion describes the

subjective human experience and is closely

linked with motivation, which is the force that

energises, activates and directs behaviour.

Social performance is the ability to perceive oneself as part of a group and the

readiness to act as part of the team. It is founded on self-awareness and the ability

to understand the behaviour of others. It is tightly linked to communication skills,

collaboration and trust. The core tenet of social performance is group cohesion.

Physical

Psychological Social