#Wetware Computers

[omshinde5145]

Wetware Computers Market Segmentation and Forecast Analysis up to 2030

The Wetware Computers Market was valued at USD 0.26 billion in 2023-e and will surpass USD 3.0 billion by 2030; growing at a CAGR of 41.5% during 2024 - 2030. It’s becoming a tangible reality with the development of wetware computers. This burgeoning technology combines the complexities of human tissues, specifically neural cells, with traditional computing elements to create systems capable of astonishing processing capabilities. The wetware computers market, although still in its infancy, promises revolutionary changes across various sectors, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, and even environmental management. Here, we explore the current state, potential future, and implications of wetware computing.

Wetware computers are systems that combine biological materials with electronic computing elements to harness the best of both worlds: the remarkable efficiency and adaptability of biological systems alongside the precision and speed of electronic computation. This approach typically involves using neurons or other living cells interfaced with electronic devices, forming a bio-electronic hybrid that can process information in ways traditional silicon-based computers cannot.

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Current State of the Wetware Computers Market

As of now, the wetware computers market is largely experimental and driven by research institutions and pioneering startups. The field has seen significant advancements due to improvements in neuroscience, microfabrication, and biotechnology. Key players in this sector are working on different applications, from brain-computer interfaces and biosensors to more sophisticated neural network modeling that can mimic human brain activities.

Applications and Potential Impact

Healthcare: One of the most immediate impacts of wetware computing is expected in healthcare. Devices that better interface with the human nervous system can revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders, provide advanced prosthetics, and even restore functions to damaged organs.

AI and Machine Learning: Wetware computers offer a unique angle on artificial intelligence. By mimicking the neurological structures and functions of the human brain, these systems could potentially operate in more human-like ways, offering solutions that are intuitive and capable of learning in a biomimetic fashion.

Environmental Monitoring: Another intriguing application is in the field of environmental monitoring and repair. Wetware systems could be developed to interact directly with biological ecosystems, helping to monitor, regulate, or repair environmental damage in ways that are harmonious with nature.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Despite the potential, there are significant challenges. The integration of living cells into electronic systems raises complex fabrication and maintenance issues, not to mention the ethical and regulatory hurdles concerning the use of biological materials.

Ethically, the field navigates complex terrain. As technologies that blur the lines between digital and biological, wetware computers necessitate a renewed discussion on privacy, consent, and the extent of human enhancement. The long-term impacts on society and individual identity also demand careful consideration.

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 Market Forecast and Opportunities

While still emerging, the market for wetware computers is expected to grow significantly as research progresses and applications begin to reach commercial viability. Investors and companies are eyeing this nascent market for its potential to offer breakthrough products and services.

For those in technology and biotech sectors, staying ahead means keeping an eye on this convergence of biology and electronics. Partnerships between academic institutions, healthcare providers, and tech companies will likely be crucial in navigating the roadmap from laboratory research to commercial products.

Conclusion

Wetware computers represent a fascinating frontier in both technology and biology. As this market continues to evolve, it promises not only to expand the capabilities of computing but to redefine the very boundaries of what computers can do. For anyone invested in the future of technology and its integration with biological systems, the wetware computers market is undeniably an area to watch.

[techninja]

How Wetware Computers Are Being Used in Advanced Diagnostics

Wetware Computers: Pioneering the Next Era of Computing

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, wetware computers stand out as a revolutionary innovation that blends biological elements with traditional computing. These cutting-edge systems promise to transform the landscape of computing, offering unparalleled efficiency and capabilities. This article delves deep into the realm of wetware computers, exploring their principles, current advancements, and future implications.

What Are Wetware Computers?

Wetware computers, also referred to as biocomputers or organic computers, incorporate biological materials with conventional hardware. Unlike traditional computers that depend on silicon-based semiconductors, wetware computers use living cells and tissues to execute computational tasks. This synergy of biology and technology unlocks new potential, leveraging the innate complexity and efficiency of biological systems.

Core Components of Wetware Computers

Wetware computers feature several distinct components that set them apart from conventional systems:

Living Cells: The foundation of wetware computers consists of living cells, such as neurons or engineered bacteria, which process information via biochemical reactions.

Biological Circuits: These circuits mimic the functions of electronic circuits, utilizing biological materials to transmit signals and perform logical operations.

Interface Technologies: Advanced interfaces are developed to facilitate communication between biological components and electronic hardware, ensuring smooth integration.

The Mechanisms of Wetware Computing

Biological Processing Units (BPUs)

At the core of wetware computing are biological processing units (BPUs), akin to central processing units (CPUs) in traditional computers. BPUs exploit the natural processing abilities of biological cells to perform complex computations. For instance, neurons can form intricate networks that process information simultaneously, offering significant advantages in speed and efficiency over traditional silicon-based processors.

Biochemical Logic Gates

Biochemical logic gates are crucial elements of wetware computers, operating similarly to electronic logic gates. These gates employ biochemical reactions to execute logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT. By harnessing these reactions, wetware computers achieve highly efficient and parallel processing capabilities.

Synthetic Biology and Genetic Modification

Progress in synthetic biology and genetic modification has been instrumental in advancing wetware computers. Scientists can now engineer cells to exhibit specific behaviors and responses, tailoring them for particular computational tasks. This customization is essential for creating dependable and scalable wetware systems.

Potential Applications of Wetware Computers

Wetware computers have immense potential across a variety of fields, including:

Medical Research and Healthcare

In medical research, wetware computers can simulate complex biological processes, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments. In healthcare, these systems could lead to the development of advanced diagnostic tools and personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to the individual’s unique biological profile.

Environmental Monitoring

Wetware computers can be deployed for environmental monitoring, using genetically engineered organisms to detect and respond to pollutants. These biocomputers can offer real-time data on environmental conditions, aiding in pollution management and mitigation.

Neuroscience and Brain-Computer Interfaces

The fusion of biological components with computing paves the way for significant advancements in neuroscience and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Wetware computers can help develop sophisticated BCIs, enabling direct communication between the human brain and external devices. This technology holds great promise for medical rehabilitation, enhancing the quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions.

Current Progress and Challenges

Advancements in Wetware Computing

Recent advancements in wetware computing have shown the feasibility of integrating biological components with electronic systems. Researchers have successfully created basic biocomputers capable of performing fundamental logical operations and processing information. These milestones highlight the potential of wetware computers to complement and eventually surpass traditional computing technologies.

Challenges and Obstacles

Despite promising progress, wetware computing faces several challenges:

Stability and Reliability: Biological systems are inherently complex and can be unstable. Ensuring the stability and reliability of biocomputers remains a significant challenge.

Scalability: Scaling wetware computing systems to handle more complex and large-scale computations is a critical hurdle.

Ethical Considerations: The use of living organisms in computing raises ethical questions regarding the manipulation of life forms for technological purposes.

The Future Prospects of Wetware Computers

The future of wetware computers is promising, with ongoing research and development aimed at overcoming current limitations and unlocking their full potential. As technology advances, we anticipate several key trends:

Hybrid Computing Models

Wetware computers are likely to complement traditional computing systems, creating hybrid models that leverage the strengths of both. This integration could lead to more efficient and powerful computing solutions, addressing complex problems that are currently beyond our reach.

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Advancements in Synthetic Biology

Continued advancements in synthetic biology will enable the creation of more sophisticated biological components for wetware computers. Improved genetic engineering techniques will allow for greater precision and control, enhancing the performance and reliability of these systems.

Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks

As wetware computing technology advances, the development of robust ethical and regulatory frameworks will be essential. These frameworks will ensure that the use of biological components in computing is conducted responsibly and ethically, addressing concerns related to the manipulation of life forms.

Conclusion

Wetware computers represent a transformative leap in the field of computing, merging the biological and technological worlds in unprecedented ways. The potential applications of this technology are vast, from medical research and healthcare to environmental monitoring and neuroscience. While challenges remain, the continued progress in this area promises to revolutionize the way we approach computation, offering new possibilities and efficiencies.

[adastra-sf]

Wetware Is Here: Human Brain-Matter Computing (not fiction)

Swiss tech company Final Spark now offers Neuroplatform, the world’s first bioprocessing platform using human brain organoids (lab-grown mini-brains) to perform computational tasks instead of silicon chips.

The first such facility uses 16 human-brain organoids, which the company claims uses a million times less power than their silicon counterparts. 

These are not sentences we expected to write non-fictionally in this year of our world 2024.

news source: X

paper: X

[morphimus]

"Isn't that a person in there?"

"What, the wetware computer? No. It's just a bunch of cells. Human cells, granted, but just cells nonetheless."

"Aren't we all just a bunch of cells?"

"Speak for yourself! I'm 97.3% robotic by mass."

"Right, but you get what I mean."

"I guess? It's still not a person though."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Well, a person is a special kind of data. It's comprised of thoughts, emotions, feelings, bonds with other people. It can think freely, act freely, according to it's whim."

"Yeah?"

"Whereas the brain in the jar here, by contrast, is just running Linux."

[gamesatwork]

e470 — Two Marvelous Mini-Brains

AI threads through a set of old and new games that span text based adventures from Infocom’s HHG2G to recent examples like Milton is Trapped, along with a conversation on FinalSpark’s Neuroplatform for biocomputing.

Photo by Michael Rowe Published 1 July 2024 Andy and Michael M get together to talk through the backlog of articles and stories from the past weeks.  While Michael R is away this time, in this episode Andy and Michael M pull on an AI thread exposed through a set of old and new games, discuss FinalSpark’s Neuroplatform for biocomputing and marvel at the immense immersiveness of the Calculating…

[trans-phone-eater]

i think we need to let moon be organic looking and also fat like she is in the game art

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: Hackin'

King: i can't believe elon's grok is pretending i'm friends with him King: i need to stop that AI before everyone believes it! King: i've got to hire a hacker King: franz, you've got to help me Franz Kafka: what? me? Barker: steve, no

Kafka: i'm not a hacker King: oh i thought franz was a hacker Barker: what gave you THAT impression? King: you know, with the cat ear headphones and the striped thigh socks Barker: no steve that's something ENTIRELY different Kafka: n-no it isn't, on second thought yes I'm totally a hacker

Kafka: it means i'm a hacker, nothing else Barker: sure franz Kafka: it does! it totally means i'm a hacker! Barker: franz, go play with your blahaj plush, the adults are talking here

Barker: you know who you need? you need william gibson Barker: the best hacker money can buy King: william gibson? how do i contact him? Barker: you don't Barker: he'll contact you

King: can you really hack grok, william? William Gibson: [wearing black duster and fingerless black gloves] my hacker name is shadow gigabyte King: oh sorry Gibson: can i hack grok? listen kid i was cyberbyting the megabyte mainframe when you were just rebooting your motherboard mouse data bandwidth modem email King: wow!

Gibson: my CPU is a neural net processer, a learning computer King: wow he really sounds like he knows what he's talking about! King: that definitely sounds like hacker talk to me Gibson: CD Rom Gibson: internet Joe Hill: dad can i talk to you for a second King: not now joe daddy's hiring a hacker

Gibson: [wildly slapping keyboard] i'll re-index the mega bit blaster cyber codex Gibson: [wildly slapping keyboard] now we'll cybersecurity the lock box data center King: hey what happens if you push that button? Gibson: what the-- no!! [klaxons sound] King: what's that mean? Gibson: shit Gibson: we've got company

Gibson: sentient cyber virus electronic guard cyberbots Gibson: real high tech Gibson: state of the art in bio-tech wetware neural-data scrapers Gibson: [putting on sunglasses with red laser scope] and they ain't friendly

King: what are we going to do?! Gibson: kid, you keep your hands to yourself unless you wanna become roadkill on the information super highway!!! Gibson: hold on to your CPU (central processing unit)!!!

Gibson: [wildly slapping keyboard] gotta reconfigure the darkweb logistics for ethernet wavetech Gibson: [wildly slapping keyboard] upload the memory downloader for dumpware backup Gibson: [wildly slapping keyboard] uncodify the cyberpatch modifer aaaaand Gibson: i'm in

King: wow, you hacked twitter?? how did you do it? Gibson: the greatest hackers never reveal their secrets [earlier] Gibson: [wearing fake mustache] hey elon its me catturd Gibson: could you give me your password? Elon Musk: sure it's "picklerick420"!

[rounderhouse]

Been thinking about wetware. Biologically-based computation tech. Thin neural membranes, trapped between plexiglass sheets, bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. Humming server banks, rows of neural sheets and thick cords of synaptic fibre. Workers in clean suits gently nudging along samples of artificial mind, destined for an offshore compfarm in Hong Kong, long outliving whatever cents-on-the-dollar guinea pig the stem cells were harvested from.

[facts-i-just-made-up]

Could you give your best explanation for what exactly wetware is?

In science fiction, "wetware" is often the name for a brain-computer interface. In reality, wetware is a Don't-Create-The-Torment-Nexus sort of deal where despite many stories of the horrors possible from making such an invention without proper care, oversight and ethical concerns, certain ultra-rich people have rushed the development of wetware by abusing animal and human subjects with few actual benefits just so they can tell shareholders that they invented wetware.

Now, I know what you're thinking, isn't this a fake fact blog? Or is he gonna promote his own novels with their many cyberpunk elements? Or did he sneak in a clever reference to Neuromancer or Ghost in the Shell above that I missed? Or did he load that question into my mind through the wetware he deleted my memory of getting?

No, I'm just tired and my sides and back hurt and I'm typing almost randomly while watching Elden Ring lore videos and I just want this fucking kidney shit to be OVER because I can't think straight.

Sorry everyone I'm not braining well these days but hopefully soon I'll be back and not just typing to try to ignore the ugh.

[do-you-have-a-flag]

sorry to come back to this but this truly fascinates and concerns me for so many reasons

obligatory "Ah sweet. Man-made horrors beyond my comprehension." comment

so first of all: brain organoids. which are grown from human stem cells into just little brains with underdeveloped eyes, they have a lifespan of about 100 days because they are an organ without a system.

these brain organoids are something that have a lot of potential when it comes to studying any number of things. just off the top of my head i would think- the process of human development, disease studies, healing tissue development, foetal and premature development of consciousness, ect ect ect i'm not informed on this type of research so i will freely admit idk.

and they are using 16 at a time as processors with computer chips. okay sure, scifi aside, the structure of an organ being used for it's complexity compared to the limitations of material and efficiency in current technology makes sense. if it helps imagine if a branch or a kidney were hooked up to a computer chip and we found out that it worked as good or better than mechanical processors for a fraction of the energy use. i am also not informed on how most technology works, please keep in mind, but i am also not opposed to the idea of combining these types of technologies in theory. and the biggest downfall currently is short shelf-life of the organoids required.

but the thing is, i think, that this is specifically an early development of a brain, at what point is consciousness defined? there is no sensory system beyond the basic light perception of the eyes and the input to the brain but at what point is the responses automatic and at what point is it complex enough to be aware in some abstract way. this question is one that can be applied to any form of animal of course.... but i think also that it is strange that these organoids are being specifically developed from human stem cells and not any number of other animal as a brain is a brain and at the small scale they are growing these organoids most of the speculative benefits of human logic are irrelevant- they are operating at pre mature infant levels which could just as easily be achieved by any number of apes cells surely?

is there going to be a developmental cut off for these organoids? at what point of biological development is the ethical ick factor for consciousness? because of how stem cells are able to be harvested in a non destructive fashion things like lab grown meat make sense to me- those are consumed but can also offset the requirements for the meat industry- and if these organoids are also grown from stem cells that's great but at what point is making that many to be burnt through as processors a wasteful use when there are other possible avenues of study? the wide commercial release of such experimental tech seems a little risky considering how quickly new technologies are exploited- just look at bitcoin farms and ai scraping- for the sake of profit with no care for ethical implementation or construction or impact.

this is a weird post from me but sorry i just have some questions i want you the person reading this to think about with me, seperate to any deep reading of the science because i wanna focus on the personal reaction to the concepts, (feel free to read the science tho i encourage it) just something to chew on i'm not expecting any philosophically concrete answers:

would you use the brain organoid processor tech if you had the chance?

why?

Why is it important that these have to be grown from human stem cells

where is the line between organ and being/consciousness

let's contend: there is the world (physical) and there is the senses (contact with the physical) and there is the experience (interpretation)

is it the senses or the experience that makes a creature conscious? how complex do the senses need to be before the experience is positive or negative?

where is that experiencial definition? is it as simple as feels good feels bad?

is it the tendency to circulate repeatedly on the same neural pathway? how are those neurological reactions controlled? are they controlled?

how do you feel about scientific testing on humans?

how do you feel about scientific testing on animals?

how do you feel about scientific testing on plants?

how do you feel about scientific testing on fungi?

how do you feel about scientific testing on single celled organisms?

how do you feel about scientific testing on organs?

how do you feel about scientific testing on technology?

what do you consider the line to be for ethical research? is it funding? is it theory versus practice? is it use of information? is it method of data collection? is it intent? is it implementation? is it within a limitation of precedent? is it within a limitation of subject? are there areas you think should be left alone on principle? why?

what level of complexity is required for the question of consent of participant?

where should limitations be imposed on use? why would limitations be necessary? who has the right to information? who has the right to profit?

Who is profiting from these studies? where will this technology be used? who is competing with this technology? what other technologies might this impact? will other technologies using the same concept adhere to the same limitations/ethics?

do you think everyone using the brain organoid based processors for $500pcm are thinking about these questions? should they have to?

disclaimer: i am uneducated and uninformed in the fields of science and technology so this is one hundo percent a personal response to information i have very little context for. But i also think it's important to think actively about technology and avoid complacency about the way it impacts our lives so doing little thought exercises in response to articles like this is, I think, a good thing.

[publicdomainreview]

OnThisDay in 1791 “father of the computer” Charles Babbage was born. On his death 80 yrs later, as he himself requested, his brain was donated to science. See pictures of the "wetware" behind the "hardware" and read a detailed description here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/a-description-of-the-brain-of-mr-charles-babbage-1909 #OTD

[techninja]

Unveiling the Potential: Wetware Computers Market Explodes with Innovation

In the realm of technological innovation, where the boundaries between science fiction and reality blur, wetware computers emerge as a fascinating frontier. Unlike traditional hardware, wetware computers are not built from silicon and metal but are instead composed of living biological material, such as neurons or DNA. This revolutionary approach to computing holds immense promise, igniting a surge of interest and investment in the Wetware Computers Market.

The concept of wetware computing draws inspiration from the most powerful computing system known to humanity: the human brain. Mimicking the brain's structure and functionality, wetware computers leverage biological components to perform complex computations with unparalleled efficiency and adaptability. This paradigm shift in computing heralds a new era of neuromorphic computing, where machines can learn, reason, and evolve in ways reminiscent of the human mind.

One of the most compelling applications of wetware computers lies in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Traditional AI systems often struggle with tasks that humans excel at, such as natural language processing and pattern recognition. Wetware computers, with their biological substrate, offer a more intuitive and seamless approach to AI, enabling machines to comprehend and interact with the world in a manner akin to human cognition.

Biocomputing, a subset of wetware computing, explores the integration of biological components, such as DNA molecules, into computational systems. DNA, with its remarkable data storage capacity and self-replicating nature, presents a tantalizing opportunity for developing ultra-compact and energy-efficient computing devices. Researchers envision DNA-based computers capable of solving complex problems in fields ranging from healthcare to environmental monitoring.

Another exciting avenue in the wetware computers market is the advancement of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). BCIs establish direct communication pathways between the human brain and external devices, enabling individuals to control computers, prosthetics, or even smart appliances using their thoughts alone. With wetware-based BCIs, the potential for seamless integration and enhanced performance skyrockets, paving the way for transformative applications in healthcare, accessibility, and human augmentation.

The wetware computers market is not without its challenges and ethical considerations. As with any emerging technology, questions regarding safety, reliability, and privacy abound. Ensuring the ethical use of wetware technologies, safeguarding against potential misuse or unintended consequences, requires robust regulatory frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, ethicists, and policymakers.

Despite these challenges, the wetware computers market is poised for exponential growth and innovation. Companies and research institutions worldwide are investing heavily in R&D efforts to unlock the full potential of biological computing. From startups pushing the boundaries of biocomputing to established tech giants exploring neuromorphic architectures, the landscape is abuzz with creativity and ambition.

In addition to AI, biocomputing, and BCIs, wetware computers hold promise across diverse domains, including robotics, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring. Imagine robots endowed with biological brains, capable of learning and adapting to dynamic environments with human-like agility. Picture a future where personalized medicine is powered by DNA-based computing, revolutionizing healthcare delivery and treatment outcomes.

As the wetware computers market continues to evolve, collaborations between academia, industry, and government will be instrumental in driving innovation and addressing societal concerns. Interdisciplinary research initiatives, funding support for cutting-edge projects, and public engagement efforts are essential for navigating the complexities of this transformative technology landscape.

In conclusion, the rise of wetware computers represents a paradigm shift in computing, with profound implications for AI, biotechnology, and human-machine interaction. By harnessing the power of living biological material, we embark on a journey towards smarter, more adaptable, and ethically conscious computing systems. As we tread this uncharted territory, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, shaping a future where wetware computers empower us to realize the full extent of our technological imagination.

[mikerickson]

Rather than merely integrating biological concepts into computing, FinalSpark's online platform 'taps' into spherical clusters of lab-grown human brain cells called organoids. A total of 16 organoids are housed within four arrays that connect to eight electrodes each and a microfluidics system that supplies water and nutrients for the cells. The approach, known as wetware computing, in this case harnesses researchers' abilities to culture organoids in the lab, a fairly new technology that allows scientists to study what are essentially mini replicas of individual organs… While we don't have any numbers on their specific system, its energy usage, or processing power, FinalSpark's research team says that training a single large language model like GPT-3, a precursor to GPT-4, required 10 gigawatt hours or about 6,000 times the energy that one European citizen uses in a year. Meanwhile, the human brain operates its 86 billion neurons using only a fraction of that energy: just 0.3 kilowatt hours per day. Technology trends also indicate that the booming AI industry will consume 3.5 percent of global electricity by 2030. Already, the IT industry as a whole is responsible for around 2 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Looks like the "brains" are grown from stem cells and can live for about 100 days. I'm skeptical something like this could be scaled up such that everyone starts using biocomputers in like cell phones and at home, but at least people are experimenting with trying to find less energy-intensive systems?

[aethelaum-pages]

Armistice

The Armistice is a Pilot bar. Everyone is welcome, of course, but when your establishment is located half a mile from the Mid-South Gate, you attract a lot of Pilots who want to drink off their post operation stress. Pilots like Onager.

She's much like every other Pilot in the bar – staring dumbly into her drink, nothing behind her eyes until Vesa, the orange-haired bartender, snaps her fingers and she sits bolt upright, eyes wheeling around as she remembers how her Handler used to do that and the conditioning kicks in. Vesa doesn't do it again. The bartender's seen that look before. If the look hadn't given Onager away as a Pilot, the dark, swirling neck tattoos surrounding a jagged mess of interface ports on the back of her neck would have.

Volmjir III was plagued by sandstorms. The high walls surrounding the few cities the planet had did a solid job keeping the sand mostly out, but development outside the periphery was difficult, as the tiny grains had a knack for working themselves into mechanical joints. Enter the biolith rigs: looming biomechanical monstrosities made of melded metal and flesh. Owing to their thick skin and armor plating, they fielded much better outside the walls, as well as on hundreds of other "difficult" planets.

Every biolith was a veritable colony of both micro and macro-organisms, all lab-grown and designed for mutually beneficial relationships. The crucial flaw, however, was their inability to distinguish between humans. To them, while they were in active mode, everything that moved was a target, because training them to slaughter everything was easier and cheaper.

This problem was solved with the Pilots: neurochemically conditioned humans who rode inside each rig's protective shell and acted as a living targeting unit for the machine. A human, linked to the brain matter of the biolith through external neurons and arteries, could detect a target, process it, and approve a kill order faster than any mechanical computer and with more reliability than wetware – and receive a massive dopamine reward for each confirmed hit. A trained Pilot was essential to the successful operation of each rig, and the most valuable piece of the weapon.

Wars end. Pilots age and retire young because the stress and emotional highs of Piloting a biolith take a toll on the brain and the dopamine rush from driving a massive cannon shell through an enemy becomes hard to replicate. Many Pilots find themselves chasing anything that makes them feel good to try to feel that again.

Onager sleeps under a weighted blanket half her weight and wears a compression vest under her duster – she needs the feeling of the biolith's muscular internal sac squeezing around her, fleshy walls compressing her arms to her sides, thick secretions slicking her dark wolfcut against her unused eyes, to feel comfortable. She feels exposed without the pressure.

Her curiously absent drinking partner Ballista, who she trained with, feels phantom shoulder cannons and wears knee and ankle braces and has for years. Being pinned down and having her biolith panic and clamp down on her with enough force to liquify a normal human, messing up her legs, wasn't enough to disqualify her brilliant brain from the NKD's Pilot program. When someone talks to her, she still subconsciously pulls back her left wrist to extend the arm-mounted blade she no longer has.

When they drink together, they usually have about a dozen drinks each, each setting one aside for Mortari and drinking it last. They never found her.

Onager stares lifelessly into her drink, completely still except for her jerking eyes, which lurch back and forth in her head, scanning across a nonexistent targeting interface. Vesa worries about her. Most Pilots aren't the most mentally stable after a career of operating a rig, but Onager was different. Pilots who stayed inside too long were at risk of developing rig-rot: their brain functions would shuffle with the rig's, causing loss of brain function when extracted.

"Onager?" Vesa knew her name. It was tattooed on the back of her right hand, her serial number on her left. "Are you alright?" No response. Vesa sighed.

"KV846?" Onager's head snapped up, the light returning to her eyes as she heard her serial number.

"Command-ready, ma'am." The Pilot didn't recognize her. She drank here almost every night, but the bartender was just another unimportant face. Vesa had taken a course on how to help rotted Pilots. The phrases were just as burned into her head as they were to each Pilot she saw.

“Run internal diagnostics and report.” She felt bad to activate Onager’s conditioning, but she didn’t know how else to reach her.

"I feel... wrong." That made sense. Formerly rig-rotted Pilots pulled from their bioliths described the feeling as similar to losing a limb and experiencing constant phantom limb for an entire second body.

"Here." Vesa laid her hand on the bar, and Onager practically snatched it up, serial number twisting as she squeezed it.

"It hurts." Her voice was thoroughly broken, even compared to other Pilots Vesa had helped.

The bartender just nodded. "I know."

...

Onager cries in her sleep sometimes. When she does, Vesa holds her close and squeezes her. She makes wonderful breakfasts on those mornings. She knows Onager isn't used to eating anything besides NKD rations yet. She loves pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries – expensive to get this far from agricultural worlds, but worth it for the way she laughs and smiles.

Legally, they had no connection. How could they? Onager didn't exist and Vesa had died. In every other manner, though, they never needed one.

They both have new lives. Vesa designs buildings, and Onager helps build them. They save money to go somewhere nicer – A beautiful world like Hiho VII, perhaps. It's forested and temperate, and housing isn't very expensive.

Rig-rot never fully goes away in most cases. Onager still has bad days. She wakes up shaking and sweaty or freezes up in the middle of tasks, crushed by the immense feeling of everything being wrong. But Vesa is there to take her hand and rub her thumb gently, and when Onager looks at her lover her eyes don't flick up and right to access the threat assessment menu anymore.

[salmontheking]

What caused the mass use of biotech in the world of Megaton heart? What does it have over regular tech?

The general rule is that wetware lets you do very complex things very easily at the expense of more RnD.

You don't need specialized equipment to manufacture a new living device, they grow on their own, you just need an incubator of the right type and size.

Wetware mostly maintains itself. You can do what amounts to thousands of moving parts with no chance of failure.

It adapts - an individual machine will become better at what it does over time. ~10 year old devices can be more valuable than fresh ones.

For computers in particular, wetware gives you much more processing power per unit mass.

On the other hand

It can't take extreme conditions like heat, cold, radiation, reactive chemicals or high voltage.

Wetware computers make mistakes, are hardly programmable and need proper fish tanks.

It's inconsistent and less energy-efficient.

You don't want a living train engine, or a living autoclave. It all depends on the job.