Cyborg is short for cybernetic organism, a person or machine that combines both mechanical/electronic and organic parts. Technological replacements or augmentations for natural organs are often called bionics. Once confined to science fiction, in the last decade major developments in neurological interface have made cyborgs a reality.
Examples in Science Fiction
- Steve Austin, main character of The Six Million Dollar Man, has bionic legs, a bionic arm, and a bionic eye.
- The Terminator, from the movies of the same name, is a robot covered in organic muscle and skin to disguise it as a human.
- The Borg, from Star Trek, are a race of humanoids that extensively modify their bodies with mechanical and electronic implants.
- The Cybermen in the Doctor Who universe are cyborgs.
- Star Wars has several examples:
- Prosthetic bodies, from Ghost in the Shell, are mechanical bodies which contain a human brain and spinal cord.
- In DC Comics, Cyborg is the half-cybernetic, half-man chief technological expert and founding member (one of five) of the Teen Titans.
- The Kodan from the movie, The Last Starfighter, make heavy use of cyborg mind-control technology in their pilots and crews.
- Commander Shepard, from Mass Effect, is approximately 30% "synthetic" after his/her "resurrection".