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The Digital Human

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Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world

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Digital Human: Series 2

The Digital Human: Series 2: Episode 6: Augment

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Factual: Science & Nature

Episode 6

Episode 6: Augment

Series 2

Augment

BBC Radio 4 - The Digital Human, Series 2, Augment

Aleks Krotoski asks if we have all become cyborgs without even knowing it.

Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world. In today's programme have we all become cyborgs without even knowing it?

We've always extended our human bodies ever since we first picked up rocks or sticks as tools, it's part of human nature. So are the digital tools of today any different? Aleks asks just how far we've come and are willing to go to become one with our technology and become cyborg.

Aleks hears from film maker Rob Spence better known as Eyeborg about the reaction he gets to the camera he has where his right eye used to be. It's a different type of eye artist and composer Neil Harbisson uses, born entirely colour blind Neil uses an electronic eye on an antenna attached to his skull to hear colours it's now such a part of how Neil perceives the world that he hears the colours in his dreams!

Brandy Ellis is a very different type of cyborg; having suffered from depression for years she opted to have electronics implanted in her brain to control her symptoms. Her feelings are literally regulated by a machine.

Ultimately Aleks finds out from anthropologist Amber Case how we're all every bit as cyborg as Rob, Neil or Brandy in how we coexist symbiotically with our digital devices.

The Digital Human: Series 2

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Episode 6: Augment

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