Recent advances in materials, sensors, software, and processing power have resulted in an increase in the number and types of devices that can be directly linked to elements of human biological processes. For example, computer interfaces can be controlled through interpretation of the weak magnetic signals generated by specific patterns of brain activity. Once fully developed, such techniques will prove of great benefit to many people.

Other researchers are also looking for ways to use human/machine connections to augment basic human abilities rather than to replace lost biological abilities.

It's only a matter of time before people start incorporating technology into the design of the human body. Since we live in a world where - despite the fact that we all are members of the same species - we cannot reliably translate our factual connectedness into effective systems of ethics for one species - how will we be able to cope with the selective hybridization of humanity with technology?

I would not consider any kind of cybernetics to be hybridization. Mainly becuase none of the changes will be passed down genetically.

In fact based on my belief that we own our bodies, and should take personal responsibility for there care or destruction, we alone as individuals should be able to decide how we augment our bodies.

Basically I dont see an ethical concern when it comes to any kind of modification I can currently think of . .

Maybe some examples might help.

I understand your reservations about the terminology. For brevity, I skipped a great deal of information on the state of current research and the known issues stemming from a phenomenon call brain plasticity.

For example, a DARPA research project several years ago outfitted SEALS with a set of sensors and computing system which, when connected to the optic nerves through pathways located on the underside of the tongue, projected a 360-degree view from digital sensors attached to the operator's helmet.

Overlaying the imaging the user could view a compass display, speed indicator, and other navigation aids.

This system was not permanently attached to test personnel; nor were surgical modifications made. Yet personnel who had the opportunity to interact with the system described the relative ease with which they were able to adapt to the system - as well as the sense of deprivation, of lack of sensory ability, when they were no longer able to use the systems.

And in the end, the most power efficient computing and sensing devices will be composed of what are now traditionally thought of as purely biological materials; so differences in the materials of which augmentative technologies are currently composed will be reduced in the course of figuring out how to supply such systems with uninterrupted power sources.

Exciting! Hook me up!

Sounds like better sex implants to me!