Human Augmentation Technology refers to the integration of advanced technologies with the human body to enhance physical and cognitive abilities.

The field of Human Augmentation centers around making intellectual and physical upgrades as a necessary part of the human body.

Human Augmentation Technology includes innovations like exoskeletons, neural interfaces, wearables, and genetic modifications to enhance human performance, health, and abilities.

Human Augmentation technologies are in use today and will continue to evolve in the next five to ten years. However, many transhumanist ideas have a longer timeline, expected to unfold over 20 to 50, or even 100 years.

Human enhancement focuses on improving human abilities, while Human Augmentation adds features or technologies to the body. Genetic modification is a form of human enhancement, but not necessarily Human Augmentation.

Organizations are increasingly utilizing Human Augmentation in the workplace, and discussions are expanding about using technology to enhance human abilities in business settings, particularly for employees. Meanwhile, government agencies are actively using human enhancement technologies, focusing on legislation and international affairs.

Four Kinds of Human Augmentation Technologies are:

Replacement

The best way to understand replacements is through the use of prosthetics. For example, when individuals lose body parts like an arm or a leg, most people today use prosthetics in healthcare applications. One of the most interesting examples in this field is Tilly Lockey, who lost both her arms at around three years old due to a brain condition. She now uses bionic arms and is very proud of them. In fact, she has shared in a TEDx talk that she can do her makeup and even paint with her bionic arms.

Support

Here comes in the edge of tomorrow exoskeletons technology since you can obviously utilize technology to expand human abilities in the actual sense. So, these exoskeletons are being utilized not just in medical care to assist individuals with for instance that are deadened to help them move again but in addition being utilized in the labor force. 

There is an example of Ford factories use exoskeletons to support workers doing overhead tasks. The Dutch Marines and U.S. Army are also exploring exoskeletons to enhance physical abilities in warehouses and on the battlefield.

Human Augmentation also includes tools like augmented reality glasses, such as Google Glass, providing extra information to help workers in specialized tasks.

Improvement

An improvement you can consider is adding new faculties to the human body. For example, the development of smart contact lenses is one such advancement. In a way, these lenses are similar to smart glasses, but they are directly integrated into the human body, providing additional information and enhanced capabilities to individuals, including workers and others.

Another pleasant example is how would you get additional senses is the utilization of haptic criticism.

An organization is developing a belt with small motors that provide haptic feedback to the wearer. The Dutch Armed Forces are testing this device in combat zones, where a motor’s movement guides the wearer in the right direction, instead of using audio cues. This technology acts as an additional sense on the body.

Communication

The most fascinating field in Human Augmentation, particularly in the workplace, is brain-computer interfacing. This involves using brainwaves to communicate with machines through software, and it’s a relatively simple technology. It’s intriguing that new businesses are exploring ways to use this technology to control machines directly or speed up interactions with software, machines, and equipment.

This illustrates how communication could evolve to direct communication, with various applications in both business and the workplace.

Recently, there have been significant advancements in assistive technologies that help people with physical disabilities live fulfilling lives. These Human Augmentation Technologies must be secure, so individuals, especially those relying on them for life support, can trust them.