04 Jan 2023

Geez, Day 4 and we don't even have a definition nailed down.

Ok, the liberal definition of a cyborg then is simply: a human made to look machine.

More liberally, let's extend that to other organisms, so now: an organism made to look machine.

More liberally, appearance isn't everything, since we can't "see" enhancements to the brain or internal body, so now: an organism made to look or act like a machine.

More liberally, systems and tools that are external to the body also allow us to act like a machine and aren't necessarily "made" to the organism itself, so now: an organism that looks or acts like a machine.

Now more conservatively, if we look and act like machines and aren't "enhanced" in any way, then we're just part of the "normal," so then: an enhanced organism that looks or acts like a machine.

But isn't that also an android? So more conservatively again: an enhanced organism that looks or acts partly like a machine

But what about the cybernetic component? What if there's no feedback loop? an enhancement that's not self-regulated by the organism would be a separate system entirely. So finally: an enhanced cybernetic organism that looks or acts partly like a machine.

What does that include?

• a prosthetic limb that allows an organism to run faster, jump higher, punch harder, squeeze tighter, etc. AND is controlled and takes feedback from the organism.

• a dental implant that allows an organism to bite through harder-than-normal materials AND provides feedback

• an organism connected to the internet, the results of which feed back into the organism

• a neural link implant that enhances the organism's cognitive capabilities AND provides feedback

What does that not include?

• a prosthetic limb that doesn't enhance the organism or doesn't utilize a feedback loop for control

• a dental implant that doesn't enhance the organism or doesn't utilize a feedback loop for control

• the use of the internet to gain information without a feedback loop

• the use of public utilities and agriculture that don't provide feedback

For our intents and purposes, all of these checklist items must be true in order to be a cyborg:

• Is the system an organism?

• Does the system look or act like a machine?

• Is the system enhanced?

• Does the enhancement provide feedback to the system?