Future of Work – Automation – Cyborgs

Future of Work – Index

This post is a conceptual summary of the chapter of the same name in the book «How the Future of Work will be» that I started writing in 2012 about the futuristic of the future of work.

Definition

The term «cyborg» is not from this digital era, but comes from centuries ago, when the human being used artificial tools or accessories to complement our organism.

Cyborg means cybernetic organism («cyb» for cybernetic and «org» for organism) which refers precisely to that, to an organism that uses cybernetic elements or accessories.

Those who don’t know the term may wonder «what is cybernetics?», well, cybernetics is an extensive and complex discipline to explain, but in short, it means the study of all processes to control and govern «something».

When we talk about «something», it’s in reference to an action («make a hole», «build a box», etc), as well as to functions of organisms («breathe», «eat», etc), as to functions of objects («reboot a mobile phone», «turn on a TV», etc) or to impalpable processes («response of an artificial intelligence», «mathematical calculation», etc).

Cybernetics studies through mathematics, physics, technology and many other areas, how that something can be controlled and governed in order to replicate it or transmit it to other areas.
In this digital era and mainly in the future of work, it will take importance, since the advance of technology is allowing us to imitate other processes of organisms in our own (with biotechnology) and also use technological elements to complement the functions of our own organism (with digital technology and hardware in our body).

A little history

When cybernetics appeared, perhaps scientists like Leonardo Da Vinci wanted to apply it in his time (wanting man to fly for example), but today it takes more importance, because scientific progress allows us to improve ourselves as an organism or to supply our own weaknesses.

How will it work

Entering into how cybernetics will work, it can be highlighted (or at least I think that is what will happen), that we will surely have digital devices connected to our mind to manipulate objects, communicate with other beings or even enhance our own functionalities. Today an orthopedic foot or a medical device that can be attached to our body is also cybernetics, but in the future, it will reach limits that we cannot imagine today.

Future of work

And how does it apply to the future of work? Well, all this technology will allow us to perform operations and communications that don’t exist today.
Surely we will be able to connect mentally to devices or devices can be coupled to our body to perform physical tasks that today without them we could not perform.
Today there are cybernetic glasses, or mind readers that allow us to move or control elements, but they are in very precarious versions that surely in the near future will be completely a daily use element.

You may now be thinking of cyborg humans like the ones in WestWorld, Terminator or Robocop and yes, that is what stimulates our thinking on how to imagine our future.

Surely there will be artificial organs to replace or improve defects in our natural ones and we will also meet robots or androids that have natural organisms to function.

To me it comes to my mind, things similar to Mazinger Z, with robots attached to us to manipulate them and be able to travel to planets or perform actions on those planets that we could not perform only with our body (in fact an astronaut suit is also cybernetics).

Being specific with the future of work, I believe that many workers will have cybernetic implants for their daily tasks and many robots that will be common in the future of work, will be manipulated by our mind or by accessories connected to our body (I imagine a robotic hand attached to our arm and we move it to operate the action of a hoist to lift elements).
Even surely we will be able to control with the mind elements or robots at great distances or perhaps a doctor can operate a person from another part of the planet.

I believe that cybernetics will also be part of the future of work and everyday life.

Future of Work – Index

About the author:

Matías Creimerman

I’m a specialist in design, development and management of software solutions with almost 20 years of experience. Microsoft Certificated Professional (MCP). Expert in dot net and Microsoft technologies. Experience and skills in designing solutions in a wide range of commercial, industrial and production areas. Design of architectures, software applications and processes. Skills in leadership and team management. Tech trainer. Technology researcher. Self-taught and dedicated to continuous learning. Skills in estimation, quotation, projects proposals and solutions design. Entrepreneurial spirit. Strong Tech profile but also customer oriented. I perform roles as fullstack dev, tech consultant, technical referent, development leader, team leader, architect, cross leader, tech manager, tech director, trainer, ramp-up & follow-up teams, software factory manager, DevOps and release manager. Regular chess player and musician.

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