Running head: GRINDERS AND BIOHACKERS: THE DIY-SCI FRONTIER 1

Grinders and Biohackers: The DIY-SCI Frontier

Graham Conger

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Grinders and Biohackers: The DIY-SCI Frontier

For many people, self-awareness is a curse. It is amazing and beautiful that as humans, were

able to understand the incredible extent of human intellectual and physical capability. But it is a

burden to know that there is always a limit. No matter how fit one could be they are always,

without a doubt, mortal. No matter how hard one could study and practice, they would never be

capable of the rapid numerical computation of a supercomputer. We are undeniably limited in

potential by what we are. But for some these are not absolutions. They believe that with

technology, humans can augment and enhance themselves. Blurring the lines between biological

and digital to reach greater state of being. They are taking the development of biologically

integrated technology into their own hands and taking the messy first steps into a new realm of

innovation, experimentation, and discovery. These people are known as Biohackers and

Grinders.

On August 24th 1998, Professor Kevin Warwick and a team of researchers at the University of

Reading implanted a transponder chip into the nerves of his forearm. Giving him the ability to

effortlessly interact with various devices wirelessly, and making him the worlds first cyborg. In

doing so, he showed the world that it really is possible to integrate technology and biology

harmoniously. And inspired a new generation of engineers, tinkerers, and body-modifiers to

explore the possibilities of this new realm of innovation.

To better know and understand the culture of these people. One must first take a look at the

nature of the augmentations the best and brightest of their ranks are currently producing. A very

popular, (and increasingly common) implant among the Grinder community, is the rare-earth

magnet implant. The origin of which is credited to Steve Haworth, an Arizona based body-

modifier. After insertion into a finger (typically the ring finger of the recipients non-dominant
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hand just in case something goes awry) it grants the recipient a sixth sense; the ability to sense

electromagnetic waves via vibrations in the magnet that trigger the nerves of the finger. While

incredibly simple, this implant brings a level of cognitive ability that seems almost supernatural.

The further possibilities this implant allows for are being explored by companies such as

Grindhouse Wetware. For example, a device known as bottlenose which interprets the waves

picked up by an implant into relevant data such as UV, WIFI, or thermal. Grindhouse is also

developing subdermal LED displays that are currently used by recipients purely for their

aesthetic quality. But will hopefully soon be able to display information about the users vital

signs. Another Grinder startup, Dangerous Things, is developing implantable RFID chips. These

will allow one to authenticate their online identity using near-field compatible devices from their

body, and only their body. Meaning digital identity theft would become far more difficult for

would be hackers without the aid of a scalpel. The vast majority of bodily biohacks are more

concerned with function rather than form. And both those that implant and receive, stress the

importance of safety and ones health above all else.

After much research it seems obvious that the field is in its infancy. This is not simply due to the

fact that electronics technology has only recently advanced to make it possible. But due to the

fact that, in general, at least in the U.S. the majority of people are uncomfortable with the idea of

human enhancement through technology(Pew). The emerging guidelines and codes of the

community are a testament to just how wild west-esque it is right now. Two of the foremost

organizations representative of the community, DIYbio and Biohack.me, have very similar codes

of practice. They namely stress the importance of responsibility and accountability, respect for

nature and one another, education, and transparency. Much of the biohacking community, while

not entirely comprised of doctors and/or scientists, wish to hold themselves near or at the same
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standard as that of the scientific or medical community. As the technology and its

implementation advances and explores possibly risky new areas. The greater community wants

to be able learn and develop from the successes and failures of its peers just as those

communities it emulates do. (The primary reason grinders remain mostly outside of the general

medical community is due to the fact that much of what they do is in breach of the Hippocratic

Oath). Its worth mention here the importance of the body-modification and tattooing industry

and community in regards to Grinders. As most biohack procedures require some small amount

of surgical procedure, but cannot be performed by doctors. For this reason, all procedures must

be conducted without anesthesia and are usually performed by professional tattooists/piercing

artists due to their experience in disinfection and sterilization practices. The majority of

recipients for these early mods outside of the producers themselves are typical of tattoo artists

usual clientele. People already invested in body modification. Therein lies the greatest challenge

biohackers face in advancement communally and commercially; acceptance by the general

public. As mentioned before, the general public is more alarmed by enhancement than excited by

it. While an outlier person with many piercings and tattoos may not be leery (or perhaps even

show enthusiasm) at the prospect of having something implanted in their bodies. The average

person is likely to have too great a level of fear and/or an Ew factor associated with the very

concept of an implant that they would not opt to get one.

Theologically speaking, Grinders are active proponents of Transhumanism belief. The idea that

humans can evolve and progress beyond our current state, and can do so more rapidly and to a

greater extent with the use of technology. (Bostrom).

The Biohacking community is just now finding its unsteady gait into the greater public eye. But

as the collective of daring and innovative programmers, artists, entrepreneurs and scientists
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continues to find more people with the intelligence and tenacity to wade into messy new waters

of experimentation and study. I have zero doubt they will become serious movers and shakers in

the world of the coming century.

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References:

Bostrom., N., (2005) A HISTORY OF TRANSHUMANIST THOUGHT [Originally published in

Journal of Evolution and Technology Vol. 14 Issue 1

Pew Research Center, July, 2016, U.S. Public Way of Biomedical Technologies to Enhance

Human Abilities

Other notable sources:

https://dangerousthings.com/

https://diybio.org/

http://biohack.me/

http://www.kevinwarwick.com/

http://www.grindhousewetware.com/

http://stevehaworth.com/