This article was taken from the October 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Wired talks to the experts about what to expect from the future of the human ability.
George Church Professor of genetics, Harvard Medical School "Human 'enhancement' already extends to space-travel at speeds of 40,000kph. Genetic enhancement, via precise genetic changes in blood cells (now in phase-2 clinical trials), allows us to become immune to HIV/Aids. Other mutations will become transferable."
Barbara Sahakian
Professor of clinical neuro-psychology, Cambridge
"People enhance themselves physically through cosmetic surgery; sexually using Viagra; and neurologically with cognitive-enhancing drugs such as Ritalin and Provigil. More potent drugs will improve memory and attention. We will be buying our coffee with a shot of smart drugs."
Emily Sargent
"Superhuman" curator, Wellcome Collection
"The reality won't be cyborgs but incremental changes in the way technologies operate. Implanted devices and nanotechnology could offer life-changing therapies to the disabled. I hope these technologies will be testament to our human values, not in conflict with them."
Nick Bostrom
Director, Future of Humanity Inst. Oxford
"Today's biomedical enhancements do not work very well, but within two decades, pre-implantation genetic diagnoses will be used to select for attributes such as health, intelligence, athleticism or temperament. Humans may be much smarter and healthier."
Sarah Franklin
Professor, Department of Sociology, LSE
"The hand-held smartphone joins up the best human technologies, including language, writing and visual recognition. Combined with clouds of mega-data and social networks, it will change everything from learning tennis or physics, to social movements and microfinance."
Aubrey de Grey
Chief science officer, SENS Foundation
"Medicine is distinct from human enhancement, but they may intersect. Somatic gene therapy will treat many diseases including the defeat of aging, but also allow such enhancements as skin luminescence. Tissue engineering may also allow us to have gills.
The sky is the limit."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
