Will It Save Us?

Pros Cons

We will look at both the positive and negative aspects

of the technology, as well as the social impact it may

have. We will look at inventions that will help to

prolong our lives and ones that will improve our

quality of living.

1. Growing Body parts

2. Memory Implants

3. Artificial Retinas

Organ transplants have saved numerous

lives but there are problems with the

current donor system.

• Lack of organs – over 95,000 people on

the waiting list in 2006

• Recipient rejection - About 25 percent of

kidney recipients and 40 percent of

heart recipients experience an episode

of acute rejection in the first year after

transplant.

We are now close to being able to grow vital organs in a lab using the

recipients own tissue. A windpipe transplant using a windpipe grown from

the recipients own stem cells has already taken place. There have also been

advancements in the way of using 3D printing for organ growth as well.

http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/26/lab-grown-human-organs/

A scientist is working on being able to implant an electronic chip to help with

memory loss. This chip will recreate the signals in the brain that

communicate with the hippocampus and create memory. It will not retrieve

lost memories but will allow patients to create new ones.

This technology would be extremely important to patients suffering from

Alzheimer's or brain trauma effecting memory. It would allow patients to

function in society where they previously would not have been able to.

Currently, the system of retina implants is only approved for patients with

retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that strikes around 1 in

5000 worldwide, but it’s possible the Argus II and other artificial retinas in

development could work for those with age-related macular degeneration,

which affects 1 in 2000 people in developed countries

This technology may one day be able to restore the sight of those

who have lost their vision entirely. The blind man may finally see.

The technology mentioned in this presentation will

definitely change the way we live out our lives. We can

cure ailments that we previously could not. A few things

to consider however would be:

Cost to patient

Repercussions of having a larger population

The moral aspect of “playing God”

Not so many years ago the thought of implanting memories, or growing your own heart was unthinkable. In the last few years however it is becoming evident that this is possible. And we can only evolve more in this sense. In a few more years we may be able to fix all human ailments and disease leaving the world free from early death due to cancer or AIDS. Leaving people without the loss of vision or hearing. Maybe even curing the world of aging.

The possibilities seem to be limited only by our lack of

imagination and initiative. I believe that the advancement

in technology will allow us to save our bodies and our

minds, but we need to mindful of the cost to society. The

game begins of who should live ,and live well vs. who

should be left to suffer. There is also the aspect of what

our planet will do with such long human life to sustain.

In the end, medical technology is the same

as any other, if used properly it could be a

great tool for society, but if used without

the greater good in mind, it could lead to

more harm than help. I like to believe in

the former. In a world where illness and

impairments are a thing of the past.

Bhimji, S. ((2011, June 14)2011, June 14). Transplant rejection. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000815.htm

Cohen, J. (2013, April 23). Memory implants. Retrieved from http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/513681/memory-implants/

Sample, I. (2013, February 13). Retinal implant restores partial sight to the blind. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/feb/20/retinal-implant-sight-blind-people