Bionics research

Bionics research is the R&D that went into creating the Compact Bionics Module technology. It could also be applied to the work that went into inventing an individual CBM, though that is less likely.

Timeline

• 2021 February: Problems with China begin to brew. The first CBMs are released for the public and military.

News Reports

EDITORIAL: BIONICS REDUCE YOUR HUMANITY. As these so-called 'bionics' spread in popularity, I can only wonder what it means to have part of your body voluntarily removed and replaced with bioplastic. It's one thing to have an amputation for medical reasons; it's quite another to voluntarily remove healthy tissue so that you can carry your cigarette lighter in the tip of your finger. I worry that the youth of today won't understand anymore what it means to feel the touch of a loved one with your own skin, instead of artificial sensory input from a lab-made plastic device.

CHINESE SUPER SOLDIERS. At a global press conference, the People's Republic of China unveiled their new bionic-powered supersoldiers. These soldiers are equipped with an analogous compact module technology, known as 'XFS' in press release documents, believed to be similar to CBM technology favored by NATO forces. "We're not concerned by these announcements," DARPA spokesperson Linda Iridani told our reporters. "We've been keeping an eye on Chinese developments in bionics for some time, and XFS technology is many years behind our own military-grade CBMs."

BIONIC USAGE GAINING IN POPULARITY. A recent Lykos study found that despite their high costs, nearly one in one hundred US citizens now have a compact bionic module, or CBM, installed. The most popular CBMs are "selfbuds", an implantable BlueTooth headphone; "InnerVision", an ocular implant that allows users to view their cell phone screens from inside their eyeballs; and "eStim", an implantable treating erectile dysfunction. Sam Novak, a spokesperson for CBM manufacturer Uncanny, said in a press release, "This comes as no surprise to us. CBMs are the way of the future, and Americans know that. We hope to roll out an all-new wave of CBMs next July, allowing our customers to connect via wi-fi to their computers and game consoles, or to remotely access their baby monitors and hear their child as though they were in the same room. I guess you could say, 'watch this space'!" (165)

COMPACT BIONIC MODULES PASS PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIALS. Uncanny, a former toy company now rebranded into a biomedical and military parts manufacturer, has unveiled its groundbreaking line of implantable medical devices, called "compact bionic modules", or CBMs. "The cost is still high, and we're aware of that," said spokesperson Danny Veil, "but we believe the product is worth it." Although a joint-assist servo CBM, for use in people with partial or complete motor nerve damage, currently costs between ten and fifteen thousand dollars, that doesn't include the cost of installation, rehabilitation, and power and recharging modules. All told, the average medical CBM will put you - or your high end insurance - out by upwards of anywhere from one to three hundred thousand dollars. (185)

MEET THE SOLDIER OF THE FUTURE. [Photograph: Colonel Andrea Sylver poses in her powered combat exoskeleton.] The new wave of military exoskeleton, or 'power armor', has been unveiled to the public after extensive testing on battlefields in Afghanistan and in police actions in South America and Indonesia. "These suits are like being a real-life super hero," Colonel Sylver announced to a gathered press. "I'm immune to all but the heaviest weapons, but just as mobile and light as any infantry soldier. With an attached hauling rig, I can carry as much as a civilian cargo exoskeleton. I'm basically a bulletproof forklift in a human-sized package." We attempted to inquire about rumors of bionic-enhanced supersoldiers deploying alongside the new power armor, but Colonel Sylver declined to answer those questions. (186)

CHOP SHOP CRACKDOWN. [Photograph: Captain Soula Anagnos poses with seized contraband bionics.] Boston PD has seized over ten million dollars in illegally obtained bionic modules in a co-ordinated crackdown on more than ten illegal installation suites. "These people are criminals," said Captain Anagnos in a press conference. "Don't believe what the internet is saying: they're not Robin Hoods. They're stealing these devices from people who need them, and they're installing them unethically, often causing severe damage in their 'patients'." We spoke online to Dr. Jose García, known for his medical blog "The Artificial Truth", about the seizure. "The party line doesn't make sense on this," Dr. García writes. "If these are illegally obtained bionics, why are they weapons? And not military weapons either. Finger blades, sharpened teeth? They aren't making these in dirty basements, these are coming out of factories. I see these here in Mexico, used by gangs. There is a market, and the manufacturers of CBMs are cashing in." Representatives from Uncanny, the largest manufacturer of CBMs in North America, could not be reached for comment. (191)

Fliers

This is an advertisement for compact bionic modules. "Nerve pain? Depression? Tardiness? There's not a problem a compact bionic module can't solve. Talk to your doctor to find out of CBMs are right for you!" (264)

See Also

• bioplastics research
• XFS technology
• Timeline
• Linda Iridani