tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post4178372867498662181..comments2024-03-29T02:47:44.652-05:00Comments on Future War Stories: The Barracks: Cybernetic, Bionic, and Bio-Augmented Soldiers Williamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-31091408400283522922019-11-04T19:02:44.702-06:002019-11-04T19:02:44.702-06:00Great Blog! I just found you site this week, and ...Great Blog! I just found you site this week, and love it! As for cybernetic verses bio-enhancement, you have a great plot line. A cyber enhanced woman and a bio enhanced man would have to work together with both feeling that the other is less than human and the government distrustful of both. It could even be a series like Drake's RCN series.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04996467278279711027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-39802377735456879022017-07-04T07:07:07.833-05:002017-07-04T07:07:07.833-05:00The idea of a newborn AI learning to adapt and pre...The idea of a newborn AI learning to adapt and predict is most likely what we would see.SplitWirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00867886255465081662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-54021772253342623432017-06-01T01:44:38.417-05:002017-06-01T01:44:38.417-05:00A fair article...but you neglected to mention the ...A fair article...but you neglected to mention the trueborn warriors of the Clans. Kerensky's Children. True Inheritors of the Star League. Was this an intentional slight, quineg? Or pure folly? You much to answer or I shall demand a Trial of Grievance! <br /><br /><br />JK...great article. Thank you for putting out one of the best MSF blogs ever! (But I couldn't resist the Battletech reference....)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00510679882123970410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-15852863998615703602017-05-23T02:11:34.206-05:002017-05-23T02:11:34.206-05:00An interesting and well informative entry as alway...An interesting and well informative entry as always William, though I'm not sure if it ever discussed some of the more "stranger" aspects of cybernetics, bionics, and biological-based augmentations.<br /><br />I'm sure many of us have heard of the prospect of cloning or printing organs, The Island film and Clonus Horror not withstanding, of creating a perfect enough replica of ones own organs so that the body doesn't reject it, but why stop there? Why not improve those organs to be more efficient, stronger even? Well one issue would be that parts of that organ's genome that would have otherwise held it back might actually be beneficial when it comes to diseases and illnesses. Something that would have required a sick leave for a normal organ would be completely debilitating for a "Replicant" organ for lack of a better vocabulary, or make an already debilitating illness exponentially worse due to the fact that it was missing essential parts of the genome. It might even give incentive to the need for nano-machines to defend said organ, which is probably expensive as heck, from such attacks. It might even give rise to techno-organic Replicant organs.<br /><br />As for the whole cybernetic and bionic portion, well if we think of such artificial limbs as we traditionally view them then yes they would raise the question of what to do with militarized cyborgs into civilian society. And it makes sense, since one needs a direct connection between the artificial circuitry and biological nerves for the artificial limbs to do such that.<br /><br />But with contemporary prosthetics, that's not the case since they are easily removable if only for the occasional comfort (something Darth Vader lacked for numerous reasons), so why should these artificial limbs be that level of permanent? Something like a hybridization between touch-sensitive surfaces and neural induction sensors or perhaps pure neural induction sensors that wrap around the, uh... stump for lack of a better phrase that can sense the electrical impulse of the nerves not unlike those near field communications technology we see in a few examples nowadays? <br /><br />Granted, such a setup can only go so far, and the human brain can only take up so much information at one time even if there's a direct connection. But what if the human brain was only half of that particular mind-machine interface, like a contextual AI that learns as you do? Heck, physical therapy after getting the bionic prosthetic may not be for your own body, your own brain to cope with an alien limb but also for the "newborn" AI to learn to adapt and predict the actions of a foreign entity.<br /><br />Still, the sense of touch would be limited if one goes the induction route if at all, but I'm sure someone smart enough could get around that hurdle if and when we do have scifi-levels of cybernetic limbs.Sabersonichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11304850400062201271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-64946273450689614622017-05-22T12:45:20.482-05:002017-05-22T12:45:20.482-05:00Not sure what category it fits in but there is a v...Not sure what category it fits in but there is a very forgettable FPS called HAZE that had a interesting concept. PMC used a combat drug called Nectar to increase the soldier combat effectiveness. The effects are more psychological than physical like with bio-enhancements and cybernetics but it's a interesting concept. Steel Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033636526460614949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-70116917851330714012017-05-22T09:10:18.833-05:002017-05-22T09:10:18.833-05:00What was Inspector Gadget anyway? Robot, android, ...What was Inspector Gadget anyway? Robot, android, cyborg? Maybe the live action movie is more explicit, but in the old cartoon I'm not sure there was ever any indication what was flesh and what was synthetic. Heck, he has a helicopter IN HIS HEAD!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01081931875096499832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-30297516038696634722017-05-21T13:20:00.117-05:002017-05-21T13:20:00.117-05:00General Grievous from Star Wars represents a level...General Grievous from Star Wars represents a level of cybernization not often mentioned: replacement of the entire muscular and skeletal systems, carrying the biological brain and internal organs in a mechanical chassis.Michael Hutsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03908089710109521421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-7496197379463599642017-05-17T12:50:53.730-05:002017-05-17T12:50:53.730-05:00Yeah...I should have included that one as well. Da...Yeah...I should have included that one as well. Damn, I really fracked up the examples! I am rolling some your comments into another blogpost similar to this one called: "Building the Prefect Soldier."Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-89485469568582336212017-05-16T22:24:08.376-05:002017-05-16T22:24:08.376-05:00And no mention of Inspector Gadget?And no mention of Inspector Gadget?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01608632887249688305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-41384115900499283632017-05-15T02:12:03.621-05:002017-05-15T02:12:03.621-05:00The great silence is over! Praised the Gods!
One a...The great silence is over! Praised the Gods!<br />One aspect about bio-augmented soldiers that may be a source material is whether or not their bio improvements be pass along to their children too.<br />I'm not a genetic engineer expert of course, I believe that any ability to pass on your traits have to be specially made so in advance and not simply be a side product of the augment processes. A clever SF writer might handwave it to serve his work.<br />Imagine that an augmented veteran children will be super too… will that repel 'normal' civilians to mate and have kids with or quite the opposite? If civilian bio upgrading is illegal than marry a veteran is the loophole for having master race children, could be an unofficial recruiting slogan: "join the army, juice up with the best steroids government money can buy and when you return home and all of your town's girls will line up to marry you!".<br /><br />Yoel<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-37359164385543592032017-05-14T19:53:50.000-05:002017-05-14T19:53:50.000-05:00Always thought the Niezscheans from Andromeda were...Always thought the Niezscheans from Andromeda were modeled in part after the Clans from Battletech/MechWarrior. Steel Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033636526460614949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-90401706556855691022017-05-13T23:27:05.554-05:002017-05-13T23:27:05.554-05:00As always a fantastic piece on a common sci-fi top...As always a fantastic piece on a common sci-fi topic. I was surprised that Spartans were not listed but I am sure that they really don't need to be listed at this point.<br /><br />Top notch work, the prospect and moral questions that CRISPR brings are big. I reminded of a quote from one of my favorite Halo fics,<br /><br />"Gene-modding is nothing new. It was as far back as the 21st century when humanity attained a comprehensive understanding of genetic sequencing. It was the 22nd century before we actually applied our knowledge: a tweak here, an enhancement there. They struggled to get that far: there were as many legal questions as scientific ones.<br /><br />For all the risks, it stood to us, time and time again. The long range reconnaissance patrols in the Rainforest Wars, for instance; men and women who could stay awake for forty eight hours without the faintest sign of fatigue. Or the far-scape pioneers, the original Outer-Colonists; engineered to quietly reject the innumerable diseases encountered on the wild frontier. On their proto-augmented shoulders, the UEG was built and, with it, the UNSC.<br /><br />There were set-backs, of course. Reduced life spans, unforeseen side-effects; growths and lesions and tumours. All manner of horrific tragedies, best forgotten. Still, progress was made. With each passing century the science improved; our methods and flesh-craft steadily refined. Finally, mankind had conquered an obstacle that had been hitherto insurmountable: its own genetic destiny.<br /><br />ORION was the realisation of all that had come before. It had been subtle in its implementation. Increased lifespans, faster reflex times, improved adrenal response rates. I remember my first injections, aged eighteen. My scalp was still raw and bare from where the induction committee had plucked me from Boot. The scientists cooed over us, told us how perfect our genes were; how this was meant to be. They told us that while they could not make us immortal, our legacy would live forever. That ours was the first step in an exciting journey.<br /><br />Had I known where that journey led, of what horrors ORION would spawn later, I think I would have run screaming, all those years ago." <br /><br />I am of the opinion that gene modding is inevitable, but where it will lead is unknown. It will be interesting for sure.Nicholas Mewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02823238401109164712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-31417370834858149342017-05-12T12:30:12.805-05:002017-05-12T12:30:12.805-05:00I was going to add those...and I am ashamed. Sorry...I was going to add those...and I am ashamed. Sorry.<br />Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-31160279157348850312017-05-12T10:21:19.200-05:002017-05-12T10:21:19.200-05:00Fantastic article, now I have a huge need to rerea...Fantastic article, now I have a huge need to reread and rewatch a lot of 80's sci-fi :) But HOW DARE YOU not include a screenshot from the exquisite JVCD "Cyborg" film or the amazing 1992 Oliver Grunier film "Nemesis"? Or not mention the outrageous 80's pulp sci-fi book series by Ben Sloane with the cyborg cop Horn! We could discuss cyborg pop culture forever :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01081931875096499832noreply@blogger.com