Before getting into Biohacking, Wearables are sooner going to become just an extension of your body. Just think of your phone, which started as a block connected to your house kilometers of wire, now fits in your pocket and can connect you to almost anyone in the world instantly. To further incorporate this into our lives we would need wearables and implants.
As soon as technology starts to mature enough for wearables, the number of wearables per human being would increase rapidly. You would start to see people wearing funky wearables, elegant wearables, and all kinds of wearables embedded with technology inside it. There will be loads of choices but less value as a combined ecosystem. The system would be chaotic and disintegrated. The company which cooperates with others to build a healthy ecosystem of many features would be the only one whose products would be preferred and worn.
Nowadays people say zoom me or skype me and not call me. But once we have wearables and implants critics suggest this form of data capture will lead to greater surveillance. The role of wearable devices and their feasibility as surveillance tools will need to be regularly evaluated says the cyborg Steve Mann himself
Health trackers and fitness apps may indeed help users lead healthier lives. But, these devices, worn on our own persons, also enable the collection of data that can be scrutinized by other companies beyond ourselves.
What is Biohacking?
Even if you haven’t heard the term “biohacking” before, you’ve probably encountered some version of it. Initially, biohacking gained popularity as an apparently earnest approach to applying the tech-hacker ethos to biology. It covers everything from diet and lifestyle changes to headline-grabbing medical procedures such as computer chip implants.
You can start out biohacking at home, simply by focusing on the core pillars of health like sleep, nutrition, exercise, social connection, and stress management by using Meditation, Intermittent fasting, Music, and Wearable technology.
But it doesn’t end there! Now we are talking about getting superpowers from gadgets. Biohackers have been implanting magnets into their fingertips, with the aim of achieving “magnetic vision.” Users are said to be able to sense electromagnetic fields (along with laptops and refrigerators) and pick up small metallic objects.
Prosthetic arms are wearable, myoelectric controlled (responding to signals from muscles, using AI recognition), and cost much less than the least expensive equivalent. They come with a solar charger, for people who don’t have access to electricity and range in size from child to adult. Currently, the limbs run from the elbow to the fingertips, but Dhaouafi has plans to expand the range.
Having new senses is going to be as regular as having a smartphone or going outside with clothes on.
Genetic engineering
Some fringe biohackers use CRISPR technology to edit their own genes, but experts warn tinkering with your genome could cause mutations.
Nootropics
Nootropics are substances that aim to improve your brain’s performance, your mood, and your productivity. They include Rhodiola Rosea to relieve stress, Panax ginseng to aid brain function, and Ginkgo biloba to improve memory.
Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics shows how your body interacts with different nutrients. It allows you to personalize your approach to nutrition and fitness, helping you optimize your health and wellness.
In the biohacker community, there is zero support for bad ideas. But, I have friends who tried to implant plant DNA under their skin so they can go out in the sun and photosynthesize. This is a powerful set of technologies that can be used in different ways. We’d better think about it and use it wisely.
