We already understand how to artificially bring our bodies back to their natural optimal state. Prescription glasses can help correct vision, while hearing aids aid those with hearing loss.
Today, emerging technologies are advancing to enhance the human body more than ever before.
Those who utilize these innovations embody a blend of human and machine, elevating their capabilities to reach what once seemed unattainable.
These are not merely futuristic concepts; they are new technologies available on the market or soon to be released.
I’ll take you to the sky
Flight has been a long-held human aspiration, from Icarus in Greek mythology to flying cars in sci-fi films like Blade Runner. Though personal flight technology may seem fanciful, it exists today in the form of a gravity jet suit.
We once envisioned rocket boots that could lift us off the ground, but such designs would be inherently unstable due to thrust being directed away from the wearer’s center of gravity.
Instead, the Gravity Jetsuit employs five engines that gently assist the wearer in navigating the air. Pilots can hover, spin, and even glide short distances above land or water.
The 1,050 horsepower gas turbine on the back provides essential lift, while two small jet turbines on each arm ensure stability and control.
In 2021, the Royal Navy tested the suit in a training exercise to explore its onboarding potential.
Please close your eyes and look
Human vision is relatively limited; without light, we are nearly blind. Night vision goggles have allowed us to see red light wavelengths for some time, but this technology has now been miniaturized.
Chinese scientist developed contact lenses coated with nanoparticles that absorb infrared rays and re-emitt them as visible red, green, or blue light.
In trials, these lenses enabled users to see flashes from an infrared LED.
Interestingly, participants found it easier to see these flashes with their eyes closed, as the visible interference from light was blocked by their eyelids.
In the future, this technology may be adapted to assist those with color blindness in experiencing a wider range of colors.
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I’m walking towards the future
Exoskeleton suits are wearable machines designed to enhance natural strength. Think of them as a type of powered suit or wearable forklift.
Many associate them with sci-fi movies like Alien, but they are already in use today.
Exoskeleton sensors detect the wearer’s movement and activate joint motors to provide additional strength.
Exoskeleton technology currently assists some individuals with disabilities, enabling them to function without assistance. It is also being developed to help warehouse workers lift and move heavier objects safely.
Moreover, this technology has everyday applications, such as aiding individuals in hiking longer distances or navigating stairs that might otherwise be challenging.
Get a better grip
Scientists at University College London recently created a glove-like device that provides the wearer with an additional thumb.
While this may appear redundant (as most of us already possess two), tests show that the additional thumb enhances dexterity, allowing tasks to be completed more easily with two hands.
Sensors located beneath the wearer’s toe control the movement of the third thumb. Currently, there is no tactile feedback, meaning the wearer cannot yet use it for delicate tasks, like carrying eggs.
Though the third thumb is not part of our natural anatomy, participants have quickly adapted to using it; only four out of nearly 600 individuals could not operate it successfully.
Control things with your thoughts
Brain Control Interface (BCI) is an innovative technology that enables individuals to control computers using their thoughts.
By embedding microelectrodes into the brain, nerve signals associated with limb movement can be decoded by computers and used to manipulate external devices.
This technology enhances far more than just computer usability; it offers those with neurodegenerative conditions reliable control over their environment.
So far, this technology has allowed volunteers with spinal cord injuries to control computer cursors merely by thinking of movements associated with their paralyzed hands or arms.
The next evolution for these devices is the precise control of robotic limbs. With BCI technology, scientists envision a future where patients with muscle atrophy or other degenerative conditions fully regain their motor capabilities.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
