Emotions toward cognitive enhancement technologies and the body : Attitudes and willingness to use

Abstract

While technological development is becoming more integrated into our surrounding environments, it is also moving closer towards the human body. In fact, numerous examples can be seen in which information technology (IT) is being designed not just for use on the body, but also inside it. Technologies dominating this domain can be described as ‘cognitive enhancement technologies’ (CETs). These technologies are intended to enhance people's cognitive capabilities, and can be viewed in the forms of implants, lens, drugs, and then moving outward, smart clothing, watches and physical environments to name some. The present study focused on measuring peoples’ (N=104) emotions towards and willingness to use various types of CETs. The study expands on current scholarship on technology and the extension of cognition, yet this actively empirically explores people's emotions towards certain types of CETs and their relationship to the body. Results of the study revealed correlations between attitudes, emotions and whether or not the CETs were to be used internal or external to the body, and surprisingly, there was a significant difference in gender as reflected in attitudes towards these application types.