If nanotechnology invades the realm of sport, will it dilute skill and competitive spirit, or will it raise the bar of perfection more than just a little bit higher, tsi finds out...
A man is doing an Olympic sprint for 15 minutes without taking a breath, and another is under water, scuba-diving for four hours without oxygen... Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi flick but in fact, this could very well become a reality in the not-so-distant future, so claims Ray Kurzweil, the man who has also suggested that nanotechnology could pave the way for immortality in as little as the next 20 years.
One of the many questions that a scenario like this
throws up is that, if indeed every person could sprint like an Olympian, then would we still host these games and competitions? If skill and hard work, the very cornerstones of competition, are replaced by technology, then will these ‘robots’ masquerading as humans compete in an arena where human error and skill are the deciding factor between triumph and defeat? “The charm of competition and the spirit of sports would be lost for ever if such health enhancers put every individual at the same pedestal,” opines Jugraj Singh, hockey gold medalist at the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup. If these nanobots could reverse ageing, I would wish that legends like Dhanraj Pillai come back and change the face of Indian hockey once again,” adds Singh. Living forever and being with our loved ones is something we dream of, but if this dream becomes a reality and no one dies a natural death, soon we’ll have to device an automatic switch-off programme which manages the ever-growing population on the face of the earth. “Personally, I would never want to live forever. Although I always wish for the wellbeing of my dear ones, but if I had the chance to give this technology a shot and make someone immortal, it would be someone like Lance Armstrong, who in spite of enduring great suffering, has still retained the will to live and compete,” says ace pugilist, Akhil Kumar, Arjuna Awardee and a gold medal winner at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. It is true that the spirit of a soldier and a sportsman is worthy of admiration. The never say die attitude has always carried them a long way regardless of the hurdles. Every technology is good if we know how to use it for the right reasons. It is essential to live within the realms of nature and respect its laws. Like two sides of a coin, even nanotechnology would have its downside. The way humans have now seemingly tapped the way to cheat death, soon, man would find ways to compete again and make life more interesting. “A sportsman’s spirit is different. Even if these nanobots bring all humans at par as far as health is concerned, an athlete would work hard, develop further skill and soon find a way to be better than the others...” Olympic Bronze Medalist, Sushil Kumar signs off.
A man is doing an Olympic sprint for 15 minutes without taking a breath, and another is under water, scuba-diving for four hours without oxygen... Sounds like a scene straight out of a sci-fi flick but in fact, this could very well become a reality in the not-so-distant future, so claims Ray Kurzweil, the man who has also suggested that nanotechnology could pave the way for immortality in as little as the next 20 years.
One of the many questions that a scenario like this
throws up is that, if indeed every person could sprint like an Olympian, then would we still host these games and competitions? If skill and hard work, the very cornerstones of competition, are replaced by technology, then will these ‘robots’ masquerading as humans compete in an arena where human error and skill are the deciding factor between triumph and defeat? “The charm of competition and the spirit of sports would be lost for ever if such health enhancers put every individual at the same pedestal,” opines Jugraj Singh, hockey gold medalist at the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup. If these nanobots could reverse ageing, I would wish that legends like Dhanraj Pillai come back and change the face of Indian hockey once again,” adds Singh. Living forever and being with our loved ones is something we dream of, but if this dream becomes a reality and no one dies a natural death, soon we’ll have to device an automatic switch-off programme which manages the ever-growing population on the face of the earth. “Personally, I would never want to live forever. Although I always wish for the wellbeing of my dear ones, but if I had the chance to give this technology a shot and make someone immortal, it would be someone like Lance Armstrong, who in spite of enduring great suffering, has still retained the will to live and compete,” says ace pugilist, Akhil Kumar, Arjuna Awardee and a gold medal winner at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. It is true that the spirit of a soldier and a sportsman is worthy of admiration. The never say die attitude has always carried them a long way regardless of the hurdles. Every technology is good if we know how to use it for the right reasons. It is essential to live within the realms of nature and respect its laws. Like two sides of a coin, even nanotechnology would have its downside. The way humans have now seemingly tapped the way to cheat death, soon, man would find ways to compete again and make life more interesting. “A sportsman’s spirit is different. Even if these nanobots bring all humans at par as far as health is concerned, an athlete would work hard, develop further skill and soon find a way to be better than the others...” Olympic Bronze Medalist, Sushil Kumar signs off. 