Pacemakers, small electronic devices, play a life-saving role in treating heart function disorders. Due to their increasingly frequent use, a question arises: are these technologies truly the first steps toward human-machine symbiosis? Is someone wearing a pacemaker already partly a cyborg? Or are we still far from the world of “The Terminator”?
What is a pacemaker and how does it work?
A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device implanted in or near the heart to regulate the heartbeat. It is used when a patient’s heart rhythm is too slow (bradycardia), irregular, or not steady enough.
Main components:
- Generator: Electronic control system and battery.
- Electrodes: Wires that deliver electrical impulses to the appropriate parts of the heart.
- Software: Smart algorithms calculate when and how to intervene.
The pacemaker detects if the heart does not beat properly and delivers electrical impulses to restore normal heart function.
Who needs a pacemaker?
- Those suffering from bradycardia
- Patients with heart block
- Individuals affected by heart rhythm disorders after atrial fibrillation
- Patients who have undergone certain heart surgeries
What types of pacemakers exist?
- Simple ventricular or atrial pacemaker
- Biventricular pacemaker
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which restores heart rhythm with an electric shock if necessary
Effects of wearing a pacemaker on lifestyle
Most people with a pacemaker can live a normal life with a few precautions:
- Avoid strong magnetic fields
- Be cautious around certain electrical equipment (e.g., industrial welding machines)
- Regular medical check-ups are necessary
Is this the beginning of human-machine symbiosis?
Although a pacemaker is a functioning technological implant, it has little to do with “Terminator”-type cyborgs:
- Purpose: Basic life-sustaining operation, not enhanced capabilities.
- Artificial intelligence: Pacemakers are not self-aware and do not make autonomous decisions.
- Integration: They are not connected to the central nervous system or the brain.
What can we expect in the future?
With the development of medical devices, increasingly intelligent and adaptive implants are emerging, which:
- Send real-time data to doctors
- Learn from the patient’s lifestyle
- Optimize themselves to individual needs
But even these advancements do not turn anyone into a “terminator.” Human-machine symbiosis primarily serves healing and quality of life improvement, not the creation of half-mechanical beings.
Pacemakers are fantastic examples of how technology can be used to save lives and improve quality of life. While in the distant future, the boundaries between humans and machines may blur, currently, the sole purpose of a pacemaker is to sustain life, not to create cyborgs.