The concept of human evolution is one that we may have been familiar with. No doubt, based on some paleontological and archeological evidences, the modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) evolved from apelike hominid species. And this evolution hinged on some principles; among which is the natural selection (survival of the best fitted), which was buttressed by Charles Darwin in his book; Origin of Species. Then technology arrived on the scene to alter the course of evolution. In this survey, we will be looking at the effects of technology on human evolution.
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So many questions have been asked in relation to human evolution; these include: "Is there a limit to how and what humans would evolve into?", then this: "Has the rate of human evolution remained fairly constant, or has it been altered?". In quick answer to the question above, I would like to draw a little reference from the research conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Utah led by Dr Henry Harpending (Paleoanthropologist).
The rate of human evolution is 100x faster in the last 5000years. - Culled from this source.
Now, if this is the case, have you asked yourself what could be the reason behind this speeding up of evolution; I mean, what changed? Many factors are remotely responsible for this, but we would focus on the technological aspect of it.
Based on Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, the process of adaptation; as it is evidenced in evolution; is triggered by the mutation and combination of genetic materials in various ways, and this is instrumental to the continuous survival of the human specie.
There is also no disproving to the fact that this era has been greeted with technological advancements, which, among others, has caused the human specie to rely heavily on tech, and these are not without effects and consequences. For example: According to this research, it has been indicated that the average mass and volume of the brain of the human specie has seen a little decline over the last 30millenia, now that's really weird (imagine moving from the average of about 1500cm3 to a little lower than 1300cm3). This has also been queried on the over-reliance of the human brain on computational and memory devices, that there would not be need to store up much info in the brain. And of course, nature would take its course, and Lamarck's theory of "Use and Disuse" would come into play.
An individual lose traits they do not use... - Jean Baptiste Lamarck
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Judging from the theory of gradualism, evolution has been believed to be a very slow but rather continuous process, which takes several millennia. But, this era has seen to have contravened this theory. Here are two statements by Google chief engineer and futurist; Dr Ray Kurzweil
Technology speeds up the process of evolution. - R. Kurzweil. Paraphrased from this source.
Technology is the next stage in the evolution of human. - R. Kurzweil. Source.
The first statement has gone to prove the statement of Dr Henry Harpending I sighted earlier. Now, putting all of the above quotes in apposition to each other, you can infer that the process of human evolution that was thought to be almost based on natural selection is now tilting towards technological selection. No wonder "Technological Evolution" (Technovolution) has been used by many to represent technology-induced evolution.
Let me use this to sight an example for us: No doubt, the world is getting noisier, and this is partly as a result of mechanical devices (car horns, industrial tools, generating sets, etc) giving off noise. It has been observed that humans living around these very noisy environments have evolved with some kind of selective hearing ability (this ability helps them to filter and cut off the sounds that they don't need, and taking in the ones they need. And that is why they can still concentrate in heavily noisy environment). Now that's technology-induced evolution (technovolution).
Another evidence is in the area of physical strength. Like I said earlier, humans have been heavily reliant on technological aids, and that has caused many to live a kind of sedentary lifestyle. This is not surprising; humans have been seen to evolve with an averagely lesser muscular mass and physical strength. I mean, why would you need a Schwarzenegger-kind of muscles when you won't even put them to work? Again, technovolution at play.
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Okay, let's consider the area of genetic engineering. Possibilities have been created, which have seen the genetic codes of humans being tweaked to produce some desired results. And these tweakings can be passed on to the subsequent generations. Now, is this another form of evolution, technovolution, or just manipulation? A particular research wowed the world, when researchers performed genetic modifications on embryo [ref]. What can't technology do?
For the major part of it; the advancement of technology has the "human body" as the primary target. And these technologies have come in various forms of enhancements (robotics, genetics, bionics), and one of the sole purposes of these enhancements is to ensure that humans wouldn't crack under the pressure of time and extinction, or just to create a more viable species of humans; but these would also change the nature of the development of humankind from "Humans" to "Transhumans" (Human+ or H+).
And remember, all these are without recourse to Darwinism. Well, I mean, this has gone way beyond the normal evolutionary course of natural selection theorized by Darwin, into the kind of evolution induced by tech.
What would be the use-case of these technologies? If you have been abreast with emerging technology, you would have heard of the story of Neil Harbisson who was born colourblind, but with an antenna implanted directly into his brain, he can sense and detect colours (a little tip for you: His antenna has a wifi too, and he can receive wifi transmission and even make calls directly to his brain. Imagine connecting to satellite from your brain, lol).
[Image of Neil Harbisson. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Author: Dan Wilton. CC BY 2.0 Licensed]
Now you see, technology has the ability to alter the course of human existence. Soon, we could be up against the battle of human-tech superiority, but in the end, the better tech always wins.
The concept of human evolution has been one that was initiated a very long time ago, and has passed through time until we arrived at this present human specie. But technology is set to alter this course massively. And as we have seen, this alterations have already begun. Very soon, there could be a huge paradigm shift from evolution to technovolution.
Thanks for reading
References for further reading:
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