How You’re Already A Cyborg
By Belen Maluenda | May 12, 2020
As the civilized world has come to a grinding halt, most of us have found ourselves yanked out of our daily routines and been handed the double-edged sword of free time.
In the monotony of self-isolation, I’ve revisited an old mind-bending idea concerning the things we have at our disposal to keep us productive, connected, and/or entertained. The idea first came during a college philosophy lecture in which the lecturer talked us through a thought experiment by philosopher David Chalmers.
The experiment involved a man and a woman who are both told to go to an address at a certain day and time. The man writes down the time of the appointment and the address in a notebook, while the woman simply memorizes the information.
When the time comes, both the man and the woman arrive at the correct address at the right time. So, the question is: what’s the difference between the two methods of information storage and delivery if both lead to the same desired outcome?
Now, for the more interesting part of this idea and how it relates to you: switch the man’s notebook for any smart device. With a smart device, the moment in which you have a question or need instructions of some sort, you can ask a search engine. You can also use tools like a calculator, a map, note-taking apps, a flashlight, and of course, a phone. During the time when you have access to your smart device, it becomes a functional extension of your mind, of yourself. In other words, you’re a cyborg.
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Before You Think I’ve Lost My Marbles…
A cyborg is defined as “a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.” The device doesn’t necessarily have to be surgically grafted into our physical bodies (though technology is certainly moving toward that). Your brain and smart devices can be thought of as different tools used to complete similar tasks, and smart devices can expand your natural capabilities.
Yes, there is longer lag of time when retrieving information using a phone than there is when you simply remember it. We have to pick up and unlock the phone, wait for things to load, etcetera. Nevertheless, you still get the information when you need it, giving you the same outcome.
It’s true, a device can run out of battery, be lost, broken, or stolen. Still, charging it enough to use it takes minutes, and replacing it usually never takes more than a few days. Generally speaking, most people who have smart devices can access them 24/7.
Devices have advantages that brains don’t. They do not forget. They are not subject to the ever-thickening fog that time layers over our memories. A device will never be drowsy, anxious, unfocused, or drunk. If it is in good condition, has an internet connection, and is charged, its ability to retrieve and relay information from seemingly infinite sources will never be impaired.
So, I’m A Cyborg. Now What?
If you choose to believe that —to some degree— you are a cyborg, how can you mindfully use that superpower? Because it is a superpower. If a person in the past had a tool that let them instantly access a massive chunk of all human knowledge among other tools, wouldn’t they be regarded some sort of sorcerer?
These tools have given us abilities that used to only exist in fantasy and science fiction. For example, geographic distance has been nullified. Today, anybody can instantaneously interact and share with people all over the world with different cultures, perspectives, languages, and backgrounds.
With the internet, knowledge has never been more accessible. I remember when getting an education from an online university was somewhat looked down upon. With the pandemic however, even the world’s most prestigious universities are turning to online classes as their standard platform. I’m curious to see if this kind of change makes more people realize that in a few areas such as education, structural and socioeconomic limitations are imaginary if we have the time and desire to educate ourselves using the technological tools we have at our disposal.
Of course, I believe that we must be careful to nurture and develop our spirituality, our bodies, and our interpersonal relationships offscreen and offline. But think of how different our world would be if people had healthier relationships to their tech, if more people used devices as tools rather than as toys.
After all, technological advancements were imagined as things that would make our lives easier. Progress was supposed to provide gadgets that would expand our potential and free up time. We hold the wisdom of the ages in the palms of our hands. We have libraries of knowledge that, more versatile than books, could have us standing on the shoulders of giants if we chose to make the climb.
And yet, so many of us dedicate hours to the leisurely daily perusal of videos and memes. How difficult it is to remind ourselves of the power we hold, when our personalized streaming service queues and infinite social media feeds faithfully oblige us with never-ending distraction.
By being mindful of our relationship to technology, we can wield its power. If we can manage to use devices as constructive tools rather than as addictive drugs, they can be our wings instead of our shackles.
