The Post Social Age

Something struck me about this article on e-skin. I’ve been fascinated with the work being done around prosthetics because the scifi geek in me thinks this puts the future of enhanced cyborgs, closer to reality.

But there’s another part of this. It’s not just about cyborgs or even just creating better prosthetics (which is cause enough in itself). It’s about making our technology more human. The more “human” our technology is, the easier it is for us to interface with. 

The same technology could be used for either:

The material is also sensitive enough to detect the pressure of a handshake, whether that pressure be downward or flexing, meaning a prosthetic limb could detect the actual degree of bend in a joint. And coating electrical devices in this material could render those devices capable of getting electricity flowing again if they are damaged.

Bao’s team is now concentrating on the next goal: to make the material both stretchy and transparent, so that it could wrap around and overlay electronic devices or display screens.

We could be talking about creating technology that allows direct brain interface or even just a better conductive material between our skin and the “skin” of the device. Which could turn our mobile devices into even more of an “appendage” than they actually are. 

This is really cool. I’ve known many people over the years with all kinds of prosthetics (must come from growing up with people who worked on farm machinery) but most prosthetics aren’t much use. Very little at all movement and that’s if you’re lucky enough to get one of those scary looking hook-hands (assuming you have enough left to attach it to). Otherwise you go without or get something that’s just for looks.

This is such an important step towards enabling amputees to re-enter not just the workforce but become normal, functioning members of society. It’s very exciting.

And on a scifi, geek note, it’s one step closer to stronger than human cyborgs. 

What?!? Wow. scientists are making organs out of plastic and the patients own cells. 

It’s like the Bionic Man but creepy/cool/amazing.

I mean, I was excited about our current run of cyborgs but this is something on a different level for sure.

It’s not hard to imagine implanting bioartificial printed organs with sensors and chips to monitor and optimize functionality. 

Despite working at a PR agency for the last three years, I don’t consider myself a PR person. But my friend Jon Silk a.k.a. @prgeek is and knows what he’s talking about here. 

For everyone else who isn’t yet convinced that ‘body hacking’ technology is going to change PR, here’s why. Concentrate, as I’ll only say it once.

Social media changed PR because it let brands know what people were thinking and saying. Wearable technology takes that to the next level as it lets brands know what people are doing.