Human Augmentation

Human augmentation is the term for technologies that improve human capabilities. They primarily work to elevate human performance, health or quality of life. Popular examples of human augmentation technology are devices such as cochlear implants or robotic limbs. However, human augmentation also applies to how humans and machines can work together, which we can see in the growing applications and capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI). By combining the strengths of automation and artificial intelligence with expert human guidance, human workers, care givers, students, public servants and professionals in virtually any kind of work can work faster and smarter.

How Does Human Augmentation Work?

Human Augmentation works by enhancing human abilities through technology. Not only is human augmentation able to improve existing skills, but humans can also access new skills using technology.

There are three different types of human augmentation:

• Sensory. This technology is used mostly to restore abilities or compensate for impairments. Sensory augmentation is the enhancement of human senses by interpreting multisensory information.
• Action. Augmented actions focus on improving human’s physical abilities. Technology advancements have allowed people to have more precise functions from their artificial limbs, with robotics playing a large role. Augmented action technology can also improve human capabilities.
• Cognitive. This looks at how computers and technology can assist the cognitive process. Augmented cognition technology aims to help improve decision-making, memory and attention.

What Technologies are Used in Human Augmentation?

AI and machine learning (ML) is used to help improve human capabilities in various ways:

• What is AI analytics? Predictive AI analytics can predict trends and events that humans alone may not be able to. Virtual assistants also work to aid human workers by scheduling and setting reminders, offering insightful recommendations, and collecting and presenting relevant information. An example of this is agent assist in contact centers.
• What is agent assist? Agent assist technology provides live support for contact center agents, offering guidance, problem-solving pathways and presenting relevant information based on the issues and behaviors it detects.
• What is a chatbot? Chatbots can be used to help people find the information they need more quickly, and be presented with solutions and advice for queries and problems.

Human Augmentation Examples

Replicating Human Ability

• Naked Prosthetics: A company that creates custom hand prosthetics for individuals who have had their fingers amputated. They are one of the first finger prosthetics manufacturers to provide their users with extremely high levels of dexterity.
• eSight: A wearable device similar to glasses that provides legally blind individuals with the ability to see their environment. The device has cameras on the front that take in the environment in near-eye quality and display it on a screen that sits right in front of the wearer’s eyes.
• MotionSavvy: A platform that translates sign language into speech and speech into sign language, acting as a personal translator for deaf people. While these products are currently geared towards businesses with deaf employees, they could eventually expand into apps on smartphones, making sign language communicable for anyone.
• Cochlear Implants: Cochlear is one of the first companies to develop such a product that restores hearing without requiring an external hearing device to be worn.
• Bioprinting: The process of creating organic tissues (organs, bones, skin, etc.) using 3D printing techniques. While this technology is still in its earliest stages, it has the potential to completely redefine the medical industry and how we typically think of healthcare.

Supplementing Human Ability

• Exoskeletons: Wearable, mechanical devices that can be worn on the outside of the body. They typically provide the wearer with artificial strength and endurance. The Sarcos Guardian is an example of an industrial exoskeleton that allows a human worker to lift up to 200 pounds, perform precise operations with heavy machinery, and handle repetitive motions without strain.
• Neuralink: Another project by Elon Musk with the ultimate goal of creating a brain-computer interface (BCI). If successful, the project would allow individuals to interact with a computer on a neural level. While this project is still in its infancy, Musk has a track record of making impossible ideas a reality.
• Waverly Labs: has created a set of earbuds that can translate conversations in real-time, completely sidestepping the need to learn foreign languages. While the languages it can translate are limited, and it isn’t completely reliable, it’s a strong step forward.
• Google Glass: By now, everyone has at least heard of this technology, even if you’re not entirely sure what it does. While the device has had a rocky start (mostly due to a premature announcement), vision augmentation is becoming increasingly popular.
• HoloLens 2: is a mixed reality headset from Microsoft that allows people to visualize and manipulate objects in holographic form. The device has many commercial and industrial uses, such as 3D computer-aided design and design collaboration, employee training and virtual instruction, and gaming.

Exceeding Human Ability

• Zapata Flyboard Air: A turbine-powered hoverboard. The driver stands on top of it like a skateboard or surfboard and can fly up to 500 feet in the air. While the device is available for purchase, quotes seem to hover around a quarter of a million dollars. That said, the company is working to make the product more practical and affordable.
• Invisibility Cloak: The idea of turning invisible certainly captures people’s imaginations, and while we don’t quite have the technology ready yet, we are getting closer. Various researchers have already come up with ways to make certain surfaces and objects invisible, and they’re trying to apply the same concepts to human cloaking.
• Artificial Blood Cell: While still theoretical, research by Robert Freitas Jr. has explored the possibility of creating artificial blood cells. This idea was born from research into mammals—whales, dolphins, etc.—who can hold their breath underwater for long periods of time. The assumption is that their blood cells are better at storing oxygen, which we might be able to recreate.
• Nanobot: Even though the word rings of science fiction, these have a very high potential of becoming a normal part of the medical industry. According to Wikipedia, a nanobot is “a robot that allows precise interactions with nanoscale objects, or can manipulate with nanoscale resolution.” These bots can be deployed into the human body to perform specific tasks that do things the human immune system can’t on its own, such as targeting and attacking certain diseases and cancers the human immune system struggles with.
• Synthetic Memory Chip: It’s no secret that hard drives are much better at retaining their memory than we are. They are also able to access that memory with greater speed and accuracy. This idea motivated neuroscientist Theodore Berger to explore synthetic memory chips that can be installed in the human brain. While still conceptual, the project could allow people to have “perfect” memories that never forget information.