03/25/14: Advanced Prosthetics are about to Transform Sport (Revised)
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/08/29/advancedprostheticsareabouttotransformsport/
In 2012 the Olympic fever was for the paralympics, with new world records, a new popularity and
interest in the Games, and new technology. Athletes with disabilities are currently exploring a
whole new range of possibilities and freedoms by using recently developed technology in
materials. While past prosthetics were mainly designed for aesthetics and used relatively basic
technology, new prosthetics use advanced materials, such as carbon fiber and electronic
processors. Engineers have used this new technology for new applications, such as for a
replacement limbs prosthetics that are specifically designed for competitive sports use.
As I also developed new materials and studied the latest technologies such as in carbon fiber, I
believed all new technology which improves life and solves problems was positive, and did not
extensively consider the ethics. The use of the new prosthetics quickly raised questions about
fairness and equality in sports, particularly when the technology which is necessary and
improves the life of the athlete, could also provide an unfair advantage. Initial responses to finding
the new ethical boundaries considered many factors, such as; if all athletes would have access
to such technology, such as from less prosperous countries, or if the cultural norms of the
society might prevent all athletes choosing to use prosthetics for sports.
The crux of the argument is that I think while technological, economical, social factors,
geographical location and culture could all affect the question of if a sports prosthetic is ethical in
sports, the development of new prosthetics for competitions is no different to the development of
a better training regime, or better designed swimsuits the technology merely enables the
athlete to perform to their full ability.
While this is the current stateofplay, one has to consider the far future; as performance
enhancing drugs had to be banned be prevent inequality, the use of technology may grow to
needing to be restricted too. These restrictions may not just be for the athlete, as there is already
a debate of if technology should be used to judge competitors. We currently accept camera
‘replays’ in judging sports now, but will it end with enforced sensors attached to athletes bodies?
Technology has now developed to the point where prosthetics could well be superior to ‘natural’
bodies made of materials that never wear out, that do not age, and can be updated to keep
pace with scientific discoveries. Such options may become more widely adopted, as I would
personally be happy to choose technology which aids me to be better wouldn’t you? Such
advances in technology have opened up more questions that will be found and answered,
creating new boundaries and new viewpoints that will define how we as a society see the
boundaries and ethics of the integration of technology with ourselves.
Great analysis of the article from Time Magazine. The Olympics are a huge source of entertainment from millions of people across the world, but controversies as presented are drawing negative attention to an otherwise highly respected event.
Prosthetics are become more widely used in niche markets, such as sports, and considering these issues are important.Since conception, the Paralympics have been judged and analyzed completely independent from the Olympics. The disabled athletes have always had the ability to use some non-human assistant in specific sports, and the use of those objects have altered the rules, regulations, and expectations of the sport. Even though the newest tools could allow for super-human abilities, they would be judged taking this into account.
Accessibility has been an issue brought up time and time again in our Ethics in the News assignments, but inaccuracies in accessibility are almost part of daily life. Not everyone has the same access to everything, and that’s how our society has come to work.
To improve this analysis, it would be great if you could expand upon the upper extreme of using prosthetics. What if, in 10 years, scientists can create bionic eyes that help sharp-shooters? Or embedded sensors to help ski and snowboard tricksters analyze their jump midair? It would also be valuable to discuss the use of drugs in the Olympics. This is a non-human factor that gave significant athletes an advantage over others, and these drugs were completely banned in the recent years’ Olympics.
Great article!