# When did technology truly start to become amazing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-technology-truly-start-to-become-amazing/734078>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 9, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-technology-truly-start-to-become-amazing/734078 "2015-10-09T21:32:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-technology-truly-start-to-become-amazing/734078/61 "2015-10-13T16:29:19Z")

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> [@Machine\_Elf](#):
>
> Depends on your definition, I suppose. Part of [Transhumanism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism) involves enhancing physical capabilities. People now have cochlear implants, implanted artificial ocular lenses, and we are even implanting electrodes in the brain to convey nerve impulses from sensory organs. Paraplegics can now control paralyzed (or robotic) limbs by using nerve impulses and can receive kinesthetic feedback from surgically implanted position sensors. If these folks aren’t transhuman, then I’m not sure what is.

None of those things are really enhancements though. Nobody’s getting cochlear implants who has otherwise normal hearing. Nobody’s getting artificial lenses who doesn’t already have cataracts or some other eye problem. Nobody’s getting limbs removed in favor of spiffy cybernetic replacements; just amputees are getting them.

Right now, this kind of thing is limited to trying to regain lost functionality, not improve upon the “stock” natural human physiology. Transhumanism is about “transcending” the limitations of our bodies and brains, not really about using technology to restore functionality.

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