Augmentation

"**Augmentation**" is a term used to describe using technology to enhance the human body. They are used by military, civilians, and law enforcement agencies alike for various purposes. Humans who have chosen to undertake augmentation are usually referred to as "augs," and sometimes disparagingly as "robots."

## Introduction

Modern augmentation has become extremely well-received by the public and governments around the world as a means of coping with the ongoing technological singularity. Although the most sophisticated ones are tightly controlled, civilian-grade augmentation is encouraged by most Earth governments. The majority of the Old World Order supports the regulation of augmentation, as to keep the populace under control, wheras the Resistance Movement prefers that it be minimally regulated.

## Purposes

Augmentations have many purposes, some of which include:

* Restoring function or replacing damaged organs and limbs.
* Increasing combat efficiency (i.e increasing physical strength or damage resistance)
* Adding new senses to organisms.
* Increasing brain function.
* Allowing the brain to interface directly with computers.

## Military-grade vs. Civilian grade

Military grade-augmentations increase typically increase combat proficiency, strength, endurance, and reflexes, allowing one to be superior in terms of combat and thinking, thus making an individual much more effective in combat. Wheras civilian augmentations may make one better at combat, it is only by a negligible extent, such as by increasing strength to a limited degree. Examples of civilian augmentation includes added senses and brain-computer interfaces.

## Types

There are three types of augmentation possible with current and/or near-future technology.

### Mechanical Augmentation

Mechanical parts are implanted into or grafted onto an individual to enhance their bodies. Mechanical augmentation is often abbreviated to "mech-augmentation." It is the most common and cheapest type on Earth. Mechanical augmentation is favored by most governments and companies. Implant rejection may occur, but chances are slim.

### Biological Augmentation

The flesh and DNA of an individual are changed in order to enhance the body. This type of augmentation has seen little use outside laboratory tests but has a great deal of potential due to the fact that it eliminates the possibility of implant rejection. Biological augmentation is often referred to as "bio-augmentation." Biological augmentation is highly controversial, as it changes the genetic makeup of an individual, rather than merely adding new functions to the body.

### Nanotechnological Augmentation

Self-replicating nanomachines are injected into an individual's body which modify the host, thus augmenting them. This type of augmentation is mostly theoretical and has seen limited progress, as the human body's immune system attacks nanomachines as if they were viruses, unless they are made out of neutral materials. It has not made enough progress in order to allow itself to be used effectively, which means that it may take decades of research before successful prototypes can be made. This type is sometimes referred to as "nano-augmentation."

## Companies

Some companies that produce augmentation include:

* OlaTech
* Lotus Labs
* Daedala