Augmented human beings: Developing cyberconsciousness

Convergence between nano-, bio-, information technologies, cognitive science (NBIC) with social and human sciences (NBICS) has become a matter of great importance in building modern interdisciplinary knowledge. Social and human sciences are especially significant when we try to understand technologies from a philosophical and psychological standpoint. In fact, technologies are no more neutral to human beings, neither in their activity or consciousness. This paper gives special attention to psychological component of NBICS. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory as well as current theories dealing with semiotic mediation no longer explain in full the role in which digital artifacts play in our lives. Computer artifacts are not only mediating tools that give support in overcoming human limitations, but merged with human consciousness-There-fore enhancing the production of human-computer consciousness, giving rise to artificial life. The production of the mind is constructed in part artificially, because the senses are amplified by new neural pathways that are computationally fused with synthetic artifacts. This paper discusses transhuman technologies, such as electronic chips used to restore the disabled human vision, as well as current health information technologies used in the intensive care unit to support the distribution of knowledge. Specifically, the activity between teams of clinicians and health information technologies. Future development of these technologies may lead to the appearance of a transhuman person, a computational organism that would be a convergence of natural and artificial bodies, minds, memories and social experiences.