What If You Could Change Your Body Like Your Clothes?

in technology •  7 years ago 

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If there is one thing I’m sure about, it is that the future is going to be a really bizarre one. The world we live in has been rapidly changing and will actually continue to do so at a faster and faster rate.

As a result, the very fundamentals of our civilization are changing and societies have had to adapt and evolve countless times over the last few centuries and it has resulted in stark differences in the lifestyle of an average human being over that period.

All this change and progress, however impressive, will pale in comparison to where we are headed in the future as we slowly but surely start approaching a stage, technologically speaking, where we will begin questioning what it means to be human and experiment with different forms of our very existence.

I think you are all already aware of the idea of uploading our consciousness into a robot and thus achieving immortality in a way. This idea is being explored a lot in movies and TV shows, and an episode of Black Mirror, really got me thinking about this.

Bodies - Only Vessels?

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Since ancient times, there is this idea that the body is only the vessel and the soul is who we really are. In the more modern times, we now say that our consciousness is what we truly are and if we could transfer it to another body/machine where it could find expression, then we would essentially have achieved immortality.

Recent studies have shown that our biological bodies may have a limit as to how old they could get and so, for those pursuing this seemingly impossible feat, the only option might be to look for a change of bodies.

It’s even weird talking about all of this right now because we identify a lot with our physical bodies and in fact they are the core of our existence if you think about it. Everything in the world, we experience through our bodies. So, to change them like changing clothes, is certainly one of the most bizarre things one could imagine.

But another argument can be made also, that, it is the collection of our consciousness, memories, preferences and nature, that constitute our identities, or “who we are”, so to speak. So, our bodies may be just vessels, at the end of the day.

What If You Could Really Do It?

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It’s not a matter of if but when we will have such capabilities. Maybe it will take 50 years or maybe 100. Who knows. But if technological progress has shown one thing, it is that science fiction of today becomes reality of tomorrow.

So, if this type of tech is developed within our lifetime, would you be willing to change your bodies? You would literally have millions of options just like you have for clothes. Not only would you be able to choose a robot body, you would be able to choose a body that is part robot and part biological!

Who knows what crazy capabilities those bodies could come with and make us feel like superheroes. The feature enhancements that the manufacturers of the bodies could provide would be endless and you could live the way you desired and try out an endless “way of living”.

Apart from the ethical questions that arise when talking about immortality, I wonder if such a life is liberation (as it allows us to transcend our physical and mental limitations) or imprisonment (forever to remain on Earth with bodies as commodities). What do you think?

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Well, I would prefer to be some-body instead of no-body in that case :)

I think it's impossible !
You can change some features but not the whole body

hehe, that's right.

That would be insane.

You're so nice for commenting on this post. For that, I gave you a vote!

HA! Thanks. Here is an up vote for yourself. Make it rain!

Yeah it would!!

Very interesting topic, Black Mirror is a phenomenal series for a kickoff, always good at putting some topics in perspective. Plus, season 4! wow.

But yeah, putting our 'souls' into another vessel will definitely be a crazy thing and it will be interesting to see if the process distorts or ruins our present memories.
The other topic that stems from this is obviously the position with VR reality, will we be able to implant ourselves into a different reality at some point without even realizing we are there? And who will control this reality? I'm sure you will of seen the first episode of season 4 and will realize how this will cause a whole host of problems, ones a LOT scarier than we have in our present reality.

Out of curiosity, have you experienced psychedelic experiences? For the topic of conversation regarding other realities within our own present time.

That VR part is really intriguing. I hadn't even considered about that. Transporting our consciousness, temporarily or permanently into a virtual world sure sounds like a heck of a ride and too futuristic to even talk about right now haha but yeah, it's something to ponder upon.

I haven't watched season 4 yet, so I don't get that reference. And no, I haven't experienced any psychedelic experiences till now, but I hear it's something!

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Without a doubt! I've been messing about with my VR and even putting on a headset and seeing your digital body right there is too much sometimes. I think the dynamic will eventually change and when the tech catches up and things become '4K' or visually similar to our own, we will start to hear a lot of stories about people 'lost in VR'. Wouldn't make a bad fan fiction post!

Oh dude, you are in for a treat. First episode is my favorite, remember the popcorn!

Oh and psychedelic experiences are fantastic. The questions they prompt are something else and the journey they take you on are like nothing I've experienced before. My words of wisdom if you ever do, your mind will only bend if you are not right with yourself. In any time of desperation and worry, center yourself with the bottoms of your feet together and your hands on them, sitting down of course with your eyes closed. I believe everything is to do with loops and the transference of energy. True harmony is achieved with the organisms around you react when your energy flows infinitely through you and back to the earth.

Years ago I read a very interesting Sci-fi short about this exact scenario. It was called "Altogether Elsewhere, Vast Herds of Reindeer" by Ken Liu. To combat a deteriorating planet and stem rapid population growth most humans lived virtually inside a HUGE server. The new class of the 1% became VR architects and interior decorators. For instance, as a birthday gift a little girl was given an endless yellow lit world (if memory serves me). The remaining few humans outside the server maintained it on the outside or took 1 way trips searching for new worlds but time itself outside VR moved at a different pace. Crazy !dims.jpg

NICE POST. I would like to add "Technology "! Something that was meant to make life easier. Is now a big threat to humanity.

Agreed!!

how the hell did you even think about this, way to go

haha, this idea has been in existence for decades now. I just provided my thoughts on it.

That would be awesome. I would choose a healthy body with a flat tummy 😛😂😂

But it would be more tough for couples. Everyone would be cheating each other in different bodies. 😂

Definitely!

lol, true

LOL, I am sure you would :P :P

Agreed!! It will become a relationship khichdi haha!!

I think you nailed it.
I think this is the ONLY way that we will see 'Artificial Intelligence"...biologically grown then transferred to cybernetics.

Fine by me...my body is high maintenance.. expensive to take care of...getting pretty much worn out no matter what I do.

I'd be happy enough to upgrade...I can think of some pretttttty gnarly options too.

I agree!! And I think this is where the progress in this area is leading us all.

Nice.... I like that..
Follow and votes me oke

Thanks.

Can this be called modern evolution with the help of technology?
Then if this really happened, then human beings may become extinct because there is nothing else really in human form. but has become another form that can no longer be said as a whole person.

Yeah, I think this means we will be taking the matter of our evolution into our own hands.

Aparte de las cuestiones éticas que surgen cuando hablamos de inmortalidad, me pregunto si una vida así es la liberación (ya que nos permite trascender nuestras limitaciones físicas y mentales) o el encarcelamiento (permanecer para siempre en la Tierra con los cuerpos como mercancías). ¿Qué piensas?

Exelente me gusta.

Thank you :)

we all know technology hold the key to such innovations but let not forget that technology too has limitations at times:)

It does. We still have to remain inside the bounds of the laws of physics.

I do believe that in the future technology and human bodies will continue to merge, think about pacemakers but bigger and better...

Yes, that is exactly how I think it is going to be.

I would change my body immediately! Half robot half human...imagine that! LOL

LOL, That would be something I would like to try as well. The enhancements that the robotic part would bring coupled with my humanity still intact, could make for a cool existence! :D

I do believe that in the future technology and the human body will continue to merge. Think about the pacemaker, but bigger and better...

Yes, I think that's exactly how it's going to be.

excellent publication. But instead of changing my body for one that can be immortal, I would prefer to have my body but to live forever

Yeah, that might be possible someday. Who knows.

The mind is all.

I think that about says it. :)

Yup it does :)

As technology develops, humanity is slowing down.the number of people who live like plants in a future life without thinking will increase.

What do you mean by living like plants?

asocial unaware of the real world.

Oh, ok. That makes sense now.

Im sure you are watching bladerunner / westworld lately :-)

Actually this post was inspired by an episode of Black Mirror. I haven't watched bladerunner yet but yeah westworld, I have!

and I have not seen Black Mirror :)

I don't know. I think a lot of what makes us who we are are from our bodily experiences. I'm not sure I'd want to give that up.

But those experiences are stored in our memories which are stored in the brain. So, they would be preserved, I guess.

But if we changed bodies, we would then change our experiences. It could completely change our personalities.

The moment we can transfer our consciousness to a corporeal or robotic body is when life loses all sense of excitement or belonging to it by the simple fact of the repetitive thought of immortality

That's true. I too believe that death gives life meaning and taking it out of equation might render life meaningless.

One day may be it is possible that the human body is only vessel and technology may be find the way to transfer the soul from one body to another. Then our old myths which was the soul is immortal was proved and practically done on the earth.
And evolution is the necessity of time. If the evolution does not take then human will not be became bipedal from quadrapedal and its cranial capacity will not be improved.

I think so too. It will be possible and then it will be proven that the soul or something similar is immortal and yeah this will only b3 possible if we take our evolution in our own hands.

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Hi @sauravrungta, I nominated you to take part in the 7 day black and white challenge in my latest post!

hey, thanks!

That's insane. But, I am not sure if I might think of doing that. Wouldn't be kind of weird?
Maybe we will finally feel what all the spirits possessing someone feel :P

That will be weird for sure. But I think, with time, it will become normal, for people in the future, just as how calling a cab from our phone has become normal for us.

I'd become a beekeeper and get bees to wax my back

LOL

great post, quite impressive to think about the different possibilities!

Thank you :)

Check out this booth in CES 2018.

haha, this post was actually inspired by news of this booth only. Many people believed that it was true lol.

Ohh! Okiess.
Yeah they did and it looked realistic too. :O

That would certainly be mind-blowing, but I personally would not move to another body. I agree that who we are is not our bodies, but think that it is in a sense a manifestation of who we are. Disconnecting from that doesn't feel fine, but perhaps that is merely my mind panicking at the idea of what it struggles to fully grasp.

I am sure that most people won't want to do it either. I personally would though ;) :D

This is like next level Arya Stark!
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It sure is :D

If such a technology is developed (that our conciouss is transferred into another object) it is a deadly TRAP...

its like moving from One Well to another beautiful Well... its still a enclosed structure with no scope for liberation...

yeah, liberation will become an unachievable goal then.

You have a great imagination! but I would be terrified to go through the streets and ask myself, is what I'm seeing real? What would you call beauty then?

Thank you. And yeah, I agree with you. Everything would be fake in such a world.

Gorgeous post! you need to write about your thoughts more often!

That's what I do generally :)