Eyeborg: Future Deus Ex tech possible

By Tom Phillips Published 30 August, 2011

"There's a potential for social unrest."

Deus Ex: Human Revolution style enhancements may be possible in real life, according to cyborg documentary film-maker Rob Spence.

Spence has augmented his own body with a tiny camera that films the world around him. It fits inside his eye socket, made possible after a childhood accident with a shotgun left him partly blind.

He now goes by the moniker of "Eyeborg".

Spence recently completed work on a documentary charting the development of human augmentations, viewable below. The film compares our current generation of cyborg technology to the technologically advanced world seen in Eidos Montreal's Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

But could existing cyborg tech really evolve into a Deus Ex-style future?

"People are starting to think that way," Spence told Eurogamer. "Technology is moving so rapidly you can start to see the potential in the footage I shot - in some cases with my own bionic eye... You just have to look at how mobiles upgrade every year."

But rapidly changing possibilities could leave the new technology open to abuse, as happens throughout the Deus Ex series.

"Here's a funny but possible scenario," Spence posits. "I could drink beer and smoke cigarettes all year, then chop my legs off, put on turbo legs and still run the 100m. That can't be allowed. It'll be very interesting where society will draw the line."

Humans are already on a path of evolution through the usage of technology and improved scientific knowledge, Spence reasons.

"You just have to look at the rate of change and how different you are from your cavemen ancestors. You're a lot taller, you live a lot longer, you've got clothes - which seems like nothing to you, but a windbreaker would seem like advanced technology to a mammoth."

Technology, however, does not signal "the end of humanity", Spence counters. "It just changes more quickly. Though when that happens there's a potential for social unrest."

Tom Bramwell rated Deus Ex: Human Revolution's dystopian future a 9/10 in Eurogamer's review.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - the Eyeborg documentary.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (24) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • c_gill2004 #1 9 months ago

    I have really really bad eyesight, makes doing some stuff really difficult in life since glasses would get in the way, and lenses mean I cant focus on stuff very very close to me. I'd happly get my eyes replaced with augmented ones in a heartbeat. Not for any fancy additional features or stuff, just so I could see better

  • TruSmiles #2 9 months ago

    Didn't EG post this in the video section a few days ago? *scratches head*

  • monsieur_qwerty #3 9 months ago

    Oh man is the future going to suck.

  • geeza2020 #4 9 months ago

    bring on the cyborg legs that allow me to tear phonebooks in half with my toes! Its a glorious future!

  • wizlon #5 9 months ago

    I would have a cyborg jaw, then I could eat toffee all day long.... hmm, toffee.

  • bratmandu #6 9 months ago

    I have trouble punching through walls, hopefully this affliction will be cured in the future.

  • fizzyfish #7 9 months ago

    Didn't EG post this in the video section a few days ago? *scratches head*

    Yep. And to anyone with a weak constitution who hasn't yet seen it, I suggest you skip the first 15 seconds. Even going through the same procedure yourself won't allow you to unsee it.

  • Bravestinsane #8 9 months ago

    @c_gill2004

    My eyes are fucked too, but i havn't wasted my money on eye tests or glasses, as far as im concerned my eyes are fucked i know there fucking, i wouldn't wear glasses if i had them so ill leave it at that.

    But i wont be getting my eye balls ripped out anytime soon and replaced, however i have read in the past, scientists are already playing around with the idea of displaying images on contact lenses.

    Either way when i can afford it ill get laser eye surgery to repair them rather than have them ripped out ;)

  • Ikaros_O #9 9 months ago

    Ok then, looks like in a decade I'm going to be involved in an 'accident' where I lose my arms and legs, then I'll become the god of this world. Or I'll just become a very depressed man with no arms and legs. Only time can tell.

  • GAmbrose #10 9 months ago

    Placing a camera in an eye socket is a bit different to having your brain actually be able to use said camera as an artificial eye.

    I'd hardly say this guy was augmented.

  • GAmbrose #11 9 months ago

    @Bravestinsane.

    Why wouldn't you get your eyes tested if you know you're vision is sh1t? Get a cheap pair of glasses for round the house and get contact lenses for social situations if you are that bothered by wearing glasses.

  • CaptainKid #12 9 months ago

    "I could drink beer and smoke cigarettes all year, then chop my legs off, put on turbo legs and still run the 100m. That can't be allowed."

    The question is, why not?
    We already have liposuction, plastic surgery, boob jobs, why not allow modifications which instead of enhance only the looks, also enhance the function of the body.

    Not saying I'm for that but it could make an interesting discussion.

  • The_Bloody_Kettle #13 9 months ago

    I understand this guy isn't really augmented.
    However, it would be pretty awesome if it had a recording function.
    You would have a complete document of your life.
    How awesome is that!

  • Bravestinsane #14 9 months ago

    @GAmbrose

    Im just not that bothered with it tbh, doesn't really affect me i don't exactly read anything from a distance so its fine.

  • Koozer #15 9 months ago

    you should really have regular eye checkups regardless, especially if your vision isn't 100% - it could be caused by many things.

  • RexRunti #16 9 months ago

    Cyborgs have existed since the invention of the pace-maker and we are already at a point where olympians are concerned about para-olympians getting a percieved advantage from their artificial limbs, it won't be long until only un-modified individuals are allowed to compete in the olympics and the para-olympics becomes more technology focused than F1.

    The question really is when will advancements get to a point when healthy individuals begin wanting replacements for their limbs and organs.

  • Haloboy #17 9 months ago

    I suffer from quite severe Amblyopia and have always had this dream that one day I'd pay to have it corrected. But once you get past your early years it's more and more difficult to put right. I get stared at a lot by the usual ignoramus crowd even though it's a pretty common condition and it used to quite severely effect my confidence in social circles.

    You tend to convince yourself you make others uncomfortable so start wearing dark glasses 24/7. The real answer to overcoming it however is simply to let people see you as you are rather than trying to conceal it and this feeling like your'e hiding some outlandish or freakish disfigurement from the world ever single time you step out.

    Needless to say my Travis Bickle nutcase in the mirror impersonation kinda sucks. Lulz.
    Edited by Haloboy at 30/08/11 @ 17:04

  • Bravestinsane #18 9 months ago

    if i had problems i would.

    The fact is i just cant read at a distance, thats just poor eyesight, i don't have headaches or any other issues.

    The simple truth is im stubborn, i refuse to spend any money on glasses no matter how cheaper they are, i have free medical care, eyesight should be part of that as far as im concerned, which is why i said i would rather spend £1000 on laser surgery in 1 lump sum, than buy multiple pairs of glasses over a lifetime, just not worth the money, im not held back by poor eyesight, i can see, im not blind its only reading that i can't do at a distance.

    My poor eyesight is genetic anyway, both my parents have poor sight and are "supposed" to wear glasses, like ill end up with back and heart problems too, im just genetically fucked :p

    Anyway were off topic, lets get back to super human enhancements. Personally i don't like the idea of cutting of limbs for a robotic replacement, unless i loose a limb for medical reasons, i do however like the idea of exosuits, such a a "Iron Man" type thing, and the old eye displays i remember from my childhood days of Dragon Ball Z

  • Bravestinsane #19 9 months ago

    @Haloboy

    I wouldn't worry about it mate the truth is, those kinds of people are the truly disabled people in society the people that see the need to judge, or stray away from topics.

    You shouldn't be shy about your condition, and people should be shy about people asking you about your condition, it will help have a better understanding.

    Prejudice, racism, disability, there all the same, they all stand out because of a lack of understanding, and people feel afraid to talk about it.

    My whole attitude to those things, is simple "i don't care" i don't care if your black, white, asian, i don't care if your Christian, Jewish or Athiest, i don't care if you have a lazy eye, if your in a wheelchair or if your "normal" as society seems to want people to be. I will talk to everyone the same, i talk to my black friends, the same as my white friends, i don't give special treatment to someone in a wheelchair, if they ask for help ill help, but im not going to act different around them, as far as im concerned there as much part of society as anyone else.

    The problem is media, they always portray celebrities as thin and good looking, and if you don't look like them your not normal. The simple fact is, celebrities are the abnormal ones, the majority of people in the world, are not thin, good looking, and have no issues, so in fact its people like you and me who are the normal ones, and the so called "perfect" people who are abnormal.

    If the majority of people in the world, are not as the media portray the "perfect" person then you are already int he majority and therefore the norm.

    You shouldn't feel you make other people feel uncomfortable, if they do feel uncomfortable by you, than thats NOT your problem, you shouldn't have to wear glasses to make yourself feel better. Thats that person issues for not having the understanding and being ignorant of different people.

    Here listen to Morgan Freeman on race, i take similar views towards disabilities, (granted you have a condition not a disability but you get where im going)

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s
    [/link]

    Sorry for the long post, people who judge people so ignorantly just annoy me.

    EDIT: Forgot the link lol

    Edited by Bravestinsane at 30/08/11 @ 17:47

  • Bennicus #20 9 months ago

    What's so wrong with being perfect?! I can't help how I was born and now you're coming on here and calling me "abnormal" how dare you!

  • lockload #21 9 months ago

    Interesting stuff, you can see quite a few of the augments from deux ex being possible in 2027, i dont think it will be in a place where it is used for cosmetic reasons though by then

    Well probably the super rich could be involved but got joe bloggs
    Edited by lockload at 30/08/11 @ 21:03

  • FenderMaster #22 9 months ago

    the problem with artificial limbs is that they don't have the sensory abilities normal ones do. You may be able to operate an artificial limb through residual muscles or nerve endings, and that is of enormous benefit to amputees. But until they develop limbs capable of sensing touch, heat, cold pain etc, they will never be a substitute for an organic limb.

    The peripheral nervous system can repair and grow though, which is why hand transplants regain function and sensation within a couple of years, i wonder if you could get nerves to grow within an artificial limb?

    Anything to do with the central nervous system is different though, like the eye. Connecting an artificial eye to the optic nerve is difficult since surgeons can't really connect the nerve endings once the eye is in place since theres no way to get behind the eye.

  • JadedSoul #23 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 08:10:55 26-04-2012

  • HuggyAtHome #24 9 months ago

    My only concern would be that based on current trends, people would use their 'enhancements' to record every chuffing thing they did, no matter how inane, and then post it all over the web or whatever social networking crap we deserve to get next.