Online conversants will pour forth such cybernetic dreams as computers driven by thoughts, implanted memory chips, bionic limbs and, of course, the full-blown desire to have one’s brain patched directly into “cyberspace,” the globally-connected computer networks. The romantic allure of the “cyborg” seems to captivate the fringes of digital culture, especially on the nets.
Predictor: Branwyn, Gareth
Prediction, in context:In a 1993 article for Wired, Gareth Branwyn writes: ”Just mention ‘neural interfacing’ (being wired directly to a machine) on a computer bulletin board and you will quickly receive comments like the following: I am interested in becoming a guinea pig (if you will) for any cyberpunkish experiment from a true medicine/military/cyber/neuro place. New limbs, sight/hearing improvements, bio-monitors, etc. Or even things as simple as under-the-skin time pieces. Online conversants will pour forth such cybernetic dreams as computers driven by thoughts, implanted memory chips, bionic limbs and, of course, the full-blown desire to have one’s brain patched directly into ‘cyberspace,’ the globally-connected computer networks. The romantic allure of the ‘cyborg’ seems to captivate the fringes of digital culture, especially on the nets.”
Biography:Gareth Branwyn served as editor of Street Tech Labs and as the “Jargon Watch” editor of Wired. He wrote for Esquire, I.D., Yahoo! and other magazines. His books include “Jargon Watch: A Pocket Dictionary for the Jitterati” and “Jamming the Media: A Citizen’s Guide.” (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: September 1, 1993
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Human-Machine Interaction
Name of publication: Wired
Title, headline, chapter name: The Desire to be Wired: Will We Live to See Our Brains Wired to Gadgets? How About Today?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/desire.to.be.wired_pr.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Bricker, Erin E.