The concept of the “Internet of Bodies” (IOB) is poised to revolutionize the relationship between technological devices and the human body, as described by academic Andrea M. Matwyshyn, who coined the term in 2016.

Matwyshyn defines IOB as a network of human bodies reliant on the internet and related technologies for functionality.

Market projections suggest significant growth in the connected medical device market, reaching billions of dollars by 2029.

IOB devices fall into three categories: external, internal, and fully integrated.

External devices, like smartwatches and smart glasses, are already mainstream, while internal devices, such as pacemakers and digital pills, are becoming more prevalent.

The third generation involves devices that seamlessly merge with the body and maintain a real-time connection to external machines and the internet, CNBC has reported.

Notable ventures in this field include Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which is developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) called “the Link.”

This chip, implanted under the skull, enables individuals to control external devices with their brain signals.

While IOB promises significant advancements, particularly in healthcare, concerns about privacy and ethics persist.

Matwyshyn and others caution that as technology becomes increasingly intertwined with human flesh, it will challenge societal norms regarding autonomy and self-governance.

Written by B.C. Begley