IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - March 2017 - 17

available to animals. For example,
in the foreseeable future it may even
be possible for humans to navigate
like a bat or to see in the dark like
an owl.
In addition, the first three-parented baby was born in September
2016 [1] and despite the mother's
DNA, which had such an error that
could lead to a disability and
eventually a fatal complication
in the embryo, the boy was born
healthy. Ten years ago this was
entirely impossible.
This therefore means that humanity could soon be able to re-design
itself biotechnologically.
At the same time, we will also
soon be developing new generations of artificial intelligence with
the brain capacity of hundreds or
even thousands of people. These
innovations - like intelligent services for independent living, supported decision-making, artificial
(avatar) sign language interpreters, communicating household
devices, and services for the blind
- will ease the burdens of, among
others, persons with mental or
sensory disabilities.
When it comes to people with
limited mobility, the field of 3D
printing technology or newer generations of exoskeleton is also a
promising, albeit different, path of
innovation. Producing tools and
replacing missing or paralyzed
body parts for a person with a dis-

march 2017

ability may soon become
commonplace, and even
more, the replacement parts
The U.N. Convention is
could make that person stronger or more efficient than
not about maintaining a
before in education, trainright to remain disabled,
ing, or in the labor market.
It therefore follows that
but about ensuring choices
humanity could soon be
able to acquire entirely new,
and opportunities.
even possibly non-human
skills, which would be much
better than the current ones.
If this happens, people equipped
abled, but about ensuring choices
with artificial body parts or (newly
and opportunities. Otherwise there
integrated) skills, extra sensory abiwill be those wealthy enough to buy
lities included, could be in a strontheir way out of disability, while othger position to secure well-paid
ers, even those born healthy will
jobs than those who have no such
become ever more disabled and disaccess to these technologies.
advantaged in comparison.
If this is so, will we be in a society
That is why we need to think
in which such attributes can be sold
about this subject very seriously,
only to those with the ability to pay for
and the sooner the better.
the enhancements? This outcome
Author Information
could eventually erase any chance
The author is a member of the
of fair competition and social mobilUNCRPD Committee and an advisor
ity within our society, leading to furto the European Parliament in the
ther conflicts and social unrest.
field of employment and social
Nevertheless, we have to bear
affairs. Email: laszlolovaszy@gmail
in mind that the cost of developing
.com.
innovations and inventions must
also be taken into account, to mainReference
tain the motivation of scientists and
[1] G. Kolata, "Birth of baby with three parents'
inventors and ensure fruitful and
DNA marks success for banned technique,
rewarding competition. It follows
New York Times, Sept. 27, 2016; https://www
.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/health/birth-ofthat we need a fine-tuned, twin3-parent-baby-a-success-for-controversialtrack approach.
procedure.html.
The UN Convention is not about
maintaining a right to remain dis-

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