Just how far could we go (theoretically)

[enginerd]

@amal

We pretty close

I would like a built in wingpack, but it could be bulky when just walking around. And there are a bunch of other problems but still, I want to have that option.

@Not

As for control of this, both synchron and neuralink have shown to be able to make tech that can enable the user to have digital outputs from their mind. I’d say 30 years and a touch of influence could reasonably push development to the point of being able to articulate 4 fully featured limbs.

This is a very important part. getting the electrodes to stay in place and be reliable for an entire lifetime could be a challenge tho.

@ODaily

• Arms and legs, can be removed at the hips and shoulders.
• Sex Organs, actually very easily removed surgically.
• Sensory organs, Eyes and ears could be removed.
• I seem to recall an extreme surgery that removes the pelvis and most lower intestines??? A colostomy bag would be needed.
• The heart believe it or not. Mechanical hearts, while crude by comparison, do exist in today tech.
• Tounge. Not strictly necessary.
• Minor organs, Gall bladder, Appendix.

So you’d be left with a brain, partial head, upper torso including lungs, liver, and most major organs / glands. Such a condition would have a low survival rate, and probably a high degree of madness, but is theoretically possible.

Now assuming we don’t just put the remain

It’s probably better to start with simpler things like the legs, then the arms once the legs are figured out, etc… Although I’d totally sign up to go full 40k Dreadnought…

Still, I’d prefer to be 100% machine instead.

@amal

@ODaily

Then we get a set of powered mechanical arms, and I’ll even stipulate that they’re jacked into the brain with a neurolink type device.

If we consider the neurological connections are a given, then what you’re looking for is exactly what the prosthetics industry is looking for. As I understand it;

1. You must integrate into the existing skeletal system
2. It should be done in such a way as to evenly balance weight across the skeletal frame, or other physiological problems will likely result
3. A new transdermal interface is needed so the skin can properly integrate and “seal” with the material. This may actually require localized genetic modification because it isn’t viable to simply allow the “living” dermal tissue to grow and integrate while the “dead” epidermal tissue will continue to slough off and refuse to attach to any material. This will always leave room for infection to take hold. The area around the implant interface will need some sort of modification to behave more like a fingernail / toenail cuticle and growth matrix so the body properly handles “protrusions”. Teeth and gums require totally different cells and handle this interface totally differently, but the nail cuticle interface is a skin solution that may hold the secret.
4. Unless you want to be bound to an extension cord, significant improvements to power storage and / or power generation (micro-fusion cells anyone?) must be made in order to power a mechanical arm that has any hope of being as strong as muscle could be, at least a full day’s work anyway.

@enginerd

I know that you have your mind control dials and all, but FFS don’t post my thoughts here for everyone to see!

@frail_rearranger

@enginerd found this today and thought you might enjoy. [Tony Shu Dissertation Defense | MIT Media Lab | Spring 2024]

That’s a very interesting part. I wish he would talk about that.

Most of those leak exudate permanently… This is one of the challenges that still need to be solved. And I’m getting a spiky metal mohawk when that gets solved, until I go for even more metal…

@amal

The area around the implant interface will need some sort of modification to behave more like a fingernail / toenail cuticle and growth matrix so the body properly handles “protrusions”. Teeth and gums require totally different cells and handle this interface totally differently, but the nail cuticle interface is a skin solution that may hold the secret.

Getting the skin and neurons to integrate into stuff is required. And those are some really interesting ideas.

As you guys can probably tell, I’ve been extremely busy with life… This is the sort of thread that gets me exited and willing to develop new stuff.