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From Flesh to Steel: The Rise of Cybernetic Body Modification
A plain-language introduction to cybernetic modification: which devices in or on the body are real, which are still science fiction, and what to keep in mind.
Body and Practice
Cybernetic Futures
Technology, implants and digital versions of body modification.
From Flesh to Steel: The Rise of Cybernetic Body Modifications
Restoration versus enhancement: how technology added to the body is usually used to restore function, what people hope to gain, and where the line gets blurry.
From Fleshy to Digital: The Rise of Virtual Body Modifications
Avatars, filters and virtual skins let people change how they appear without touching the body. Here is what virtual modification offers and where it can cause problems.
From Skin to Steel: The Rise of Mechanical Body Modification
Metal and hardware worn or implanted in the body, from prosthetics to jewelry and magnets, with the practical limits and risks such items carry.
Getting Under the Skin: The Ethics of Subdermal Implants
The ethical questions around implants placed under the skin: consent, safety, regulation, reversibility, data and fairness, without taking one side.
Related topics
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Practices and Science The science and the practices, from skin and implants to hair. Art and Expression Body art as creative work, style and collaboration with artists. Industry Evolution How body art and modification developed over time, from piercing to implants. Cosmetic Procedures General-terms look at common cosmetic and surgical procedures and the technology behind them. Hair and Temporary Looks Hair changes and painted skin as reversible or lower-commitment ways to change appearance. Piercing History Where piercing came from, what it has meant and how it is seen today. Scarification What scarification is, its history, and the debates around pain and meaning. Tattoo Stories Tattoos as personal change, emotional experience and a working craft. Artists and Craft How tattoo and piercing artists work, train and present their craft. Pain and Extreme Practices Scarring, branding, suspension, stretching and other pain-linked practices. Industry Size and Shape How big the body modification business is and where it is heading. Business Opportunities How companies, entrepreneurs and marketers work in this field. Unusual Modifications Stretching, suspension, implants and other less common practices. Risks and Consequences The physical and practical downsides of modification, and why licensed care matters. Economics of Modification How money, markets and marketing work in the modification trade. History and Evolution How modification practices developed from ancient times to today. Future of Modification Emerging trends and technologies that may shape the field. Technology Crossovers Where technology meets body modification, from implants to future ideas. Emerging Frontiers Implants, 3D printing, body hacking and digital tools. Rising Practices Suspension, hyper-modification, micro tattoos and the anatomy behind them. Skin and Scar Science How skin is built, how it heals and what scarring involves. Piercing and Ink Science What is known about healing, anatomy and risk in piercing and tattooing. World of Modification A tour of practices, technology and the business around them.