Biohacking can be described as ‘maximising your biology through a series of investigations, measurements, feedback and action to achieve the ultimate results with minimal effort. Think: creating your optimal self.’.  Although this sounds quite intense it can vary from things as simple as optimising your sleep by controlling the temperature of your bedroom to implanting a near-field communication chip into your finger that allows you to unlock your car or pay for your shopping.

In my opinion, one of the most interesting areas of biohacking is how those born with differences in ability use this method of modification to create new senses.  An example of someone who has achieved this is Neil Harbisson, an artist born with achromatopsia making him completely colour blind.  He therefore started ‘The Human Antenna’ experiment with the goal of extending his perception of colour beyond grey scale.  Harbisson and his team developed a software that translated colour into vibrations through the use of a camera mounted on his head.  Initially this was kit that he carried around in a backpack and wore headphones to hear the colours. Eventually, however, the hacking become more extreme and Harbisson had an antennae surgically inserted into his optical bone.  He now experiences colour via bone conduction as the optical bone reverberates around his skull.  Harbisson has made it clear that he never intended to overcome his achromatopsia but I think that it is fascinating that with today’s technology that we are now able give ourselves new senses artificially.

Another sense that has been created is ‘North Sense’. A compass chip with bluetooth connection is attached to the body with two titanium bars like a piercing.  The chip vibrates every time it points towards north and was created with the thought that, if some animals can already sense direction, why shouldn’t humans? The long-term goal for the project is screen less navigation, allowing humans to navigate like a bird.  To me this seemed somewhat unnecessary before realising that this could allow blind people to navigate independently, progress that should surely be celebrated.

Biohacking is naturally a massively controversial subject and is surrounded by countless questions on ethics and at what point we are going too far.  Biohacking extends to editing genes, a science called Crispr.  This technology claims to be able to delete undesirable genes and potentially even place desirable genes into our DNA.  Risks associated with this include wiping out large sequences of DNA and possibly even triggering cancer.  Although crispr crosses more into a science than a design field I think that people’s attitudes to modifying ourselves is quite consistent.

For me, the moral questions surrounding this industry are tricky. On one hand I think individuals should be able to design tech that optimises their lives and improves their abilities as long as they aren’t putting themselves at harm, body modification has been around for centuries after all. But where are the lines drawn? Should we be embracing the addition of technology into our lives or are we now beginning to take things too far with individuals harming themselves by seeking out abilities that humans are simply not meant to have?

So, can something so controversial be deemed as ‘great design’? Clearly the field is too diverse to lump all biohacking methods in together but some of the technologies that allow humans to have new senses could be seen as contenders. Most Biohacking is definitely not in the mainstream and so I think it would tricky to agree it’s case from a point of view of the general public’s perspective but I don’t think we can ignore the huge leaps forward in technology that individuals are making. Perhaps today’s biohacking is the early stages of a world wide break through technology or is trying to design ourselves taking things too far?

 

Sources:

https://www.womenshealthsa.co.za/health/biohacking-power-ups/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/coolest-biohacking-implants/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46442519
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/23/17594864/crispr-cas9-gene-editing