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Cyborg Soldier 2050: Human/Machine Fusion and the Implications for the Future of the DOD Today we are going to take a look through this fascinating report titled Cyborg Soldier 2050: Human/Machine Fusion and the Implications for the Future of the DOD. Of course, DOD refers to the United States Department of Defense. The primary objective of the report was to forecast and evaluate the military implications of machines that are physically integrated with the human body to augment and enhance human performance over the next 30 years. The report is the culmination of a year-long assessment by the DOD Biotechnologies for Health and Human Performance Council, a study group established to continually assess research and development in biotechnology. Section 1/6 - Technology Predictions for 2050: The report highlights four case studies of technology that could be feasible by 2050. i) Case Study No. 1: Ocular Enhancement for Imaging, Sight, and Situational Awareness ii) Case Study No. 2: Restoration and Programmed Muscular Control through an Optogenetic Bodysuit Sensor Web iii) Case Study No. 3: Auditory Enhancement for Communication and Protection iv) Case Study No. 4: Direct Neural Enhancement of the Human Brain Section 2/6 - Perceptions and Politics: In order to learn more about the public perception of this technology, Cary Funk, Director of Science and Society Research at the Pew Research Center was invited to join the study group. Dr. Funk specializes in measuring views on public trust in science and in 2016 conducted a survey within the United States that focused on understanding attitudes about human enhancement technologies. It showed that the majority of Americans greeted the possibility of these breakthroughs with wariness and worry rather than enthusiasm and hope... It is anticipated that state and non-state adversaries will seek to use U.S. deployment of enhanced warfighters to undermine U.S. interests and stigmatize the DOD as unethical. Also, mass media has led to the demonisation of cyborgs (i.e. Frankenstein and the Terminator), so the study group recommended that efforts should be undertaken to reverse the negative cultural narratives of enhancement technologies and leverage media as a means of engaging of public. If technology is to become a more intimate partner in the physical enhancement of the human species, then DOD personnel must help alter distorted cultural narratives. Although not intrinsically a DOD mission, defense leadership should understand that if they intend to field these technologies, social perceptions will need to be understood and OVERCOME. Section 3/6 - Legal and Privacy Issues: As the pace of technological development accelerates and human/machine enhancements become a reality in the years leading up to 2050, it is almost certain that legal frameworks will continue to be outpaced and face new challenges. There is also the privacy aspect of the legal argument in which cyborg technology inherently collects data from those around the enhanced individual. Although an individual volunteers for enhancement and agrees to any corresponding collection of his or her personal data, bystanders are unlikely to have granted the same permission. Section 4/6 - Safety and Security: The introduction of human/machine enhancements into military and civilian populations will create new vulnerabilities that will need to be mitigated by security architectures. Unless one specifically engineers the cyborg to resist the collection or interception of data, it will be default facilitate surveillance. From a national security perspective, adversaries may piggyback surveillance and tracking technologies within implanted cyborg mechanisms. Section 5/6 - Military and Civilian Integration: Classifying military personnel as enhanced or non-enhanced would add another level of categorisation to military status, fitness for duty, and rank that will have to be considered. Enhancement will effectively change the capabilities and professional status of active duty soldiers. Section 6/6 - Ethical Considerations: A service member who received an investigational enhancement as part of a study must be fully informed of any known risks and benefits. The individual must agree to participate without undue influence. In conclusion, the study makes it clear that there will be significant benefits afforded by this technology. However, as it develops, it is vital that the scientific and engineering communities move cautiously to maximise potential with a focus on the safety of U.S. society...
