What might society resemble assuming that cyborg body parts were openly accessible for utilize like side of the road rental bikes? The University of Tokyo team led by Masahiko Inami set out to find out by developing wearable robotic arms.
A number of technologies that Inami and his team are working on are based on the concept of "jizai," which is a Japanese word that, according to him, roughly means autonomy and the freedom to do as one pleases.
“Living somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if it were a part of your body,” is the goal, which is similar to the relationship between musician and instrument.
According to Inami, traditional Japanese puppetry and a quasi-horror short story by novelist Yasunari Kawabata about a man who borrows the arm of a young woman and continues to spend the night with it were sources of inspiration for him.
"This is absolutely not a threat to humans; rather, it is something that enables us to do as we please, similar to an e-bike or bicycle. It helps us and can make us more creative, "Inami said.
Two ballet dancers are seen in a promotional video for the "Jizai Arms" performing a routine with robotic arms protruding from their backs and torsos—human and machine moving together. The artists at last hug, cyborg arms included.
According to Inami, after some time, some wearers become attached to their arms. Taking them off in the wake of involving them for some time feels somewhat miserable. That's where they differ slightly from other tools, "he said.
However, the potential goes past transforming a writer's dream into the real world, for example, helping in search-and-salvage missions, he added.
According to Inami, "in the future we might see wings growing out of people's backs, or drones attached to people... Maybe someone will come up with a sport that requires six arms or invent a new kind of swimming."