Body Hacking: The risks, the rewards, and the pointless

Biological augmentation is one of the hallmarks of cyberpunk fiction, so I just couldn't let this topic go by untouched. In the United States, there is a small group of people who are interested in biological augmentation. Within this group, there is an even smaller group of people who actually perform such augmentation on themselves. These people are called "body hackers". Put simply, a body hacker is a person who modifies their body in some way, typically by means of surgery, in order to gain an ability they hadn't possessed before. For example, a common body hack involves inserting a magnet under ones skin, typically on a finger tip, in order to "feel" electromagnetic fields. Does that sound a bit "out there"? It is, but we should dismiss body hacking immediately without first considering a few things.

Human beings are unique animals. We are unique in that we go to extremes in improving ourselves and our environment. We're always looking for ways to better our lives and live to the fullest. Exercising our bodies and our minds is simply a manifestation of this desire to improve ourselves. And body hacking is just another manifestation of this desire. But why? Is body hacking really going to improve the human body or is it merely a novelty? And at what cost? 

Okay, what are the costs of body hacking? Pain. Yes, surprisingly enough, physically modifying your body can be very painful. Body hacktivists urge anyone who is going to hack their body first ingest a fair amount of alcohol. This doesn't really inspire confidence, however, it does speak volumes about the commitment these people have to their art. Another cost of body hacking is permanent damage to the body and, possibly even, death. This of course depends on how invasive the hack is and where on the body the hack targets. Additionally, body hacktivists risk serious infection by performing these hacks. 

But, what are the benefits of body hacking? Now, I know what you're thinking, "How could there possibly be any benefit to body hacking, especially given the costs and risks you so expertly listed above?" The risks and costs can be very high, depending on the hack. However, body hacking isn't without its silver lining. Body hacking, like most underground movements, pushes the envelope. Body hacktivists boldly trudge into uncharted lands, in pursuit of human growth and improvement. Body hacktivists are the likely forerunners of all kinds of future body hacking. It took Thomas Edison 1,000 attempts before he managed to invent a working light-bulb. I view body hacktivists much the same way. They are paving the ground for all kinds of useful body hacks and augmentation. Yes, there are licensed and skilled professionals with far more years under their belt who are doing much the same thing, but the more the merrier, as the expression goes. And the backroom body hackers have an advantage over the licensed professionals. The body hackers aren't restricted by standard and law. Which means more risk to the subject, but it also means more room for experimentation and innovation.

But what benefits do body hacks give to the body hacker? Well, I've yet to find a benefit that couldn't have been gotten by other, safer means. Body hacking is still a primitive art form, so there aren't really any hacks that will give any unique benefits. If you want to know about some of the more well-known body hacks, including the one in the image above, see this article by Oliver Wainwright.

Now, I'm all for pushing boundaries and taking risks, but there are right ways and wrong ways to push a boundary. And some of these risks seem completely unnecessary given the desired benefit the action is intended achieve. But its not my body on the line. And I can appreciate people who risk their own bodies and lives in the name of innovation.

If you are considering hacking your body, give yourself plenty of time to consider the costs and risks involved. Don't just jump into this kind of activity. Body hacking isn't like getting a tattoo on impulse. Even superficial body hacks carry significant risks and consequences. For that reason, I do not endorse body hacking. And just what kind of technological baggage does body hacking bring with it? It would depend largely on the hack, but every hack would carry some kind of baggage. Just another thing to consider before implanting that microphone into your forearm.  

With that being said, I would like to tip my hat to all of the body hackers out there. It's been said that Cyberpunks are superficial posers who don't have what it takes to commit to the tech-fueled lifestyle. May the body hackers prove the naysayers wrong.