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Deus Ex Eyeborg Documentary Shows Today's Cyborgs

Posted by timothy on from the mind-the-source-but-cool-images dept.

jjp9999 writes "A documentary commissioned by Eidos Montreal explores the possibilities of cyborg technology found in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, comparing it to technology found today. The 12-minute film is narrated by filmmaker Rob 'Eyeborg' Spence, known for his glowing prosthetic eye that connects to an electronic receiver, and follows him around the world as he meets with leaders in biotechnology and with people who have bionic prosthetics — all the while comparing the technology to what's found in Deus Ex."

6 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Old News by Winckle · · Score: 2

    His blog changed site, and this documentary only got put up 3 days ago. So quit whining.

  2. I've been pondering this since DX1 by He+Who+Has+No+Name · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...the best conclusion I could come to is that I would be willing to augment, not replace. JC Denton had nanoaugs that enhanced his biological limbs,organs and tissues without replacing them, unlike Jensen who has permanently lost part of himself to machinery. I think enhancement is a far better approach than irreversible replacement.

    That, and I couldn't come to grips with taking out my eyes. My mother gave them to me.

    1. Re:I've been pondering this since DX1 by Walkingshark · · Score: 2

      One of the things I found interesting, and which I wish had been addressed in the game, is that Jensen's legs and one of his arms could have been saved, but Sarif decided to execute a clause in his contract and had them replaced. He also had Jensen loaded up with basically every implant and aug available, all without any kind of direct consent.

      So if Jensen had woken up and decided he didn't want to be an aug, he'd have been left a blind paraplegic.

      To me, this opens up interesting questions about living wills and the idea of operating on someone and changing their basic biology without their direct consent (a hidden clause in an employment contract doesn't seem adequate for the radical level of changes invovled, the man had a trademarked logo literally stamped on his forehead).

      --
      The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
    2. Re:I've been pondering this since DX1 by ShakaUVM · · Score: 2

      ...the best conclusion I could come to is that I would be willing to augment, not replace. JC Denton had nanoaugs that enhanced his biological limbs,organs and tissues without replacing them, unlike Jensen who has permanently lost part of himself to machinery. I think enhancement is a far better approach than irreversible replacement.

      That, and I couldn't come to grips with taking out my eyes. My mother gave them to me.

      It's not like Jenson had any say in the matter. He'd been critically injured, and needed a torso and arm replacement. Then his dickhead boss ordered his remaining limbs chopped off and replaced without getting his permission. (Hey, people in comas can't say no, right?)

      Also: Spoiler alert.

  3. I'm a cyborg by mcgrew · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Lots of people my age and older are. The lens in my left eye is an artificial device. It sits on struts so is able to focus, unlike a natural lens anybody my age has (the eye's lens hardens around age 40, which is why geezers need reading glasses). Many folks I know have artificial hips, knees, and other joints.

    I live in a science fiction world. You young folks can't imagine the scientific and technological marvels you'll see before you're my age.

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
  4. By some definitions, we are all cyborgs by musicalmicah · · Score: 2

    We all use technology to replace bodily functions. For over twelve thousand years, we have been using cooking technology to replace the work our digestive systems previously had to do. We use clothing technology to replace the work our fur once did. We used art and writing, then the printing press, then the copy machine, and now computers to replace much of the work our brains once did.

    Think about how you feel when you step into your car and turn on the ignition -- the car suddenly becomes part of you. If another car collides with yours, you say, "They hit me" and not "They hit my car." And now, with phones connecting to the Internet and identity becoming so important online, I certainly feel like I've lost a part of myself when someone else is playing with my phone, as if they tore out one of my limbs to do a puppet show.