Have You Ordered Your Bionic Tail, Cybernetic Arms and Jet Hoverboard?

I do see the actuality of development of a human robotic “chasis” that will be developed to robotically assist humans in strength, speed and endurance. This will probably be created and advanced by DARPA for soldiers as a precursor to “powered armor” of the Starship Troopers sort (the novel, not the movie). I think that will happen soon if it has already not: a contained biomedically sealed armor suit with data link, environmental controls and even meds and weapons. Due to its lethality it won’t be available to the public, however. The chip thing Scott speaks of is a real fear: it does have good uses, and that’s how it will be sold, but it has the potential for bad abuse by the government. But I think any development of GRIN technologies (gravity, robotics, intelligences (AI) and nanotechnology will have profound changes on humanity that we cannot even forecast yet. There is both great wonder and great fear in our future. When they can “nan”-ufacture a modem into your brain, you won’t need a computer or a cell phone anymore. You will have instant access to virtually anything. At the same time the network managers will know your precise location at all times, your medical data and all of your physical actions and perhaps even your thoughts. And the concept of a “virus” has a whole new meaning. If nanites can hook technology directly to nerves, then there is also the potential for physical control of your body by others against your will. I think such mind links and nanotech will give us some amazing new powers, but will ultimately destroy freedom as we know it, because one we are mind-linked it’s too easy to become The Borg.