Human Cybernetics is a field of study. The underlining principle in cybernetics is a goal-oriented approach to achieve objectives via communication. A machine could imitate human behavior and even be integrated into our biology system. How our brain works through communication with organs and emitting enzymes to displaying emotions and creating body movements are all facets of human cybernetics.
Cybernetics has been an unused word for years. The revival of Cybernetics has only recently re-emerged. After year, 2000 science re-introduced the word cybernetics. The problem nowadays is that few people comprehend the meaning of Cybernetics. The etymology of the term cybernetics dates back to the early days of ‘Plato’, a Greek philosopher. They used the word cybernetics to refer to “the art of steering”. In simple term, Cybernetics is about having a goal, and then appropriate action needs to be taken to fulfill that desired goal. In the process of achieving that goal, ‘feedback’ is required to monitor progression towards the pre-set target. Cybernetics when referred to as concept in society, is how different aspects of the nature around us operate. For instance, Plato considered governments as a Cybernetics system, yet we, will focus on the Human evolution of Cybernetics in respect to longevity.
Norbert Wiener gave cybernetic a more modern meaning to the word in his book entitled “Cybernetics” in 1948. The subtitle of the book was “control and communication in the animal and machine”. It appeared as a revolutionary concept and explained the fundamental of connective control (aim to achieve goals) through communication (interaction between actors in the environment). More interestingly, in the subtitle of the book animals and machine were mentioned to portray biological system and non-biological system (Artificial systems). In cybernetics, both living and non-living systems have an importance. This shows how cybernetics is related to many other fields where cyborgs and artificial intelligence are two amidst many others.
The human and animal nervous system can be compared to a machine. For instance, computing system operates mainly through binary codes; where zero represents off current and one on current. In our brain, nerve cells or so-called neurons are present. These cells operate on a rather complex mechanism with extremely advanced properties. However, they appear to be influenced by electrical current. They have a similar state as machines; they are either at a ‘rest’ state or at an ‘on’ state. A normal psychological process can stimulate neurons at rest to a ‘firing’ state; on state. This will ensure that signals are transmitted across neurons to perform a particular task such as triggering an emotion of happiness. The modern computer is used to send emails, chat and even video conferencing. These are all features of communication; message transmission. In our internal biological system, the body, neurons perform the same function of sending messages to instigate chemical messengers. For instance, hormones in our body are connected psychological process such as emotion and can be influenced by the external environment through stress, sex, food and amidst many other attributes influencing our hormonal levels.
To be straightforward, cybernetics focuses on internal communication of cells and how it can be improved. We human have the most complex nervous system amidst all living animals. Dr. Norma Doidge, author of the “The Brain That Changes Itself” said that the brain is NOT a machine as machines do not change and grow.” However, W.Ross Ashby, author of “introduction to cybernetics” and “Design for a Brain” says that machines are ways of behavior. It is fact that every neuron in our brain is more complex than any computer ever built and we have approximately 100 billion neurons in our head. Each of these neurons has around 10,000 connections to other neurons. Our brain is not a single organ; it is rather an inter-connection to other parts of our body. The brain does also keep a very ancient memory as our feelings and emotions have been developed through millions of years and not only through our lifespan.
Future of Human Cybernetic
The future of human cybernetics is heading towards complex artificial intelligence technology. However, it should be noticed that robots or machines are simply outcomes of cybernetics. Cybernetics is as mentioned models of organizations, feedback, goals, and conversation to understand the capacity and limits of any system. This includes biological, mechanistic and technical systems.
The progress of AI (artificial Intelligence) has been met with several failures. However, curiosity to comprehend the mechanism of the brain as a scientific field is grown. Communication between machines and humans are the next doorstep for cybernetic progress. The term, human robots and cyborgs are emerging in this same stance. Cyborgs are expected to be hybrid of machines and human. Many cyberneticians have been involved in projects concerning the construction of cyborgs. Cyborgs are only a minor aspect of cybernetics, in relation to being a field of study. Medical cybernetics and Psycho Cybernetics are the most conducive word to envelop human cybernetic.
In Human Cybernetics, we are trying to remove weaknesses in our actual biology system. For instance, if we are unable to hear, hearing apparatus is developed. Someone unable to walk, smell or see is in the same way provided with some type of technology that can help him or her to overcome his or her handicaps. Raymond Kurzweil, a futurist, inventor and author of several books on health, transhumanism and artificial intelligence believes that by 2020 advanced technology (nanobots) will already have reached a maturity state. This will be the prime phase towards another step ahead in our evolution.
Humans are offspring of various humanlike species according to fossil findings, different types of apes. However, we are no longer comparable to our ancestor; our evolution has set us apart from our vanished historical ancestors. We are a new species; similarly, if we embrace some aspects of cybernetics such as cyborgs we will become a more advanced human race. The human we know today will become synonyms to a chimpanzee when compared to cyborgs. The simple facet of internal communication (cybernetics) with internal organs and cells, when unraveled can bring changes, which are unprecedented.
Medical and Psycho Cybernetics are going from theory to implementation. This is how the future of cybernetics might evolve and how human can eventually transform into a new identity.
Sources:
1. SAGA Journal Online:
Thu, May 20, 2010
Anti Aging, Bioscience, Nanotechnology