TOKYO, Jun 09 (News On Japan) –
Masahiko Inami, professor and deputy director on the College of Tokyo’s Analysis Heart for Superior Science and Expertise, is main groundbreaking analysis into human augmentation—know-how that expands human capabilities past pure limitations. Impressed by science fiction and pushed by a imaginative and prescient of a extra inclusive and inventive future, Inami’s work goals not solely to help these with bodily challenges however to raise all people by way of the combination of recent expertise and sensory capabilities.
His idea of “augmentation” goes past rehabilitation or compensation. Somewhat than restoring misplaced capabilities, his aim is to push the boundaries of what the human physique can do. For instance, one in every of his analysis tasks entails wearable gadgets akin to a prosthetic sixth finger, which might improve dexterity and coordination. In line with Inami, some customers adapt shortly to such applied sciences, whereas others take extra time—a phenomenon he’s additionally learning to higher perceive particular person variations in studying and adaptation.
Inami sees these variations not as issues to be corrected however as sources of innovation. His strategy diverges from conventional engineering, which frequently designs for a median or “commonplace” person. As a substitute, he believes that recognizing and embracing human variability opens new prospects in design and software. This mindset types the muse of his analysis into what he calls “jizai-ka,” or self-directed transformation—the flexibility to freely purchase or take away skills relying on one’s objectives.
He contrasts this with automation, which removes duties from human palms and leans towards unmanned programs. Inami’s imaginative and prescient, in distinction, retains the human on the heart, with know-how as a way to amplify private will and creativity. Simply as we modify garments to swimsuit completely different environments, Inami envisions a future the place we are able to connect or detach expertise and sensory enhancements at will, navigating each the bodily and digital worlds with new types of expression and functionality.
This philosophy has gained new relevance as synthetic intelligence quickly advances. Inami argues that if AI is ready to surpass human intelligence in some domains, people should additionally evolve—technologically and creatively—to stay lively contributors sooner or later. To him, coming into a hyperconnected, AI-driven world with out enhancement is like strolling into the jungle unarmed. He believes the important thing to thriving in such an period lies in increasing not solely our cognitive capacities but additionally our bodily types.
The origin of his imaginative and prescient lies in private expertise. Inami remembers being poor at sports activities as a baby, missing confidence in his bodily skills. This early sense of limitation grew to become the muse for a lifelong query: What if human shortcomings weren’t merely accepted however remodeled into new strengths by way of know-how?
Now, by way of his work on the College of Tokyo, Inami is making a future the place that query turns into a actuality—one wearable ability at a time.
Supply: テレ東BIZ
