Synopses & Reviews
On July 7, 2001, Michael Chorost suddenly and inexplicably lost what was left of his hearing. He took the radical step of having a computer implanted in his head. Known as a cochlear implant, the device could be programmed in different ways to restore him to the world of sound. Chorost found his new body mystifyingly mechanical: Kitchen magnets stuck to his head. He could plug himself directly into a CD player. His hearing was routinely upgraded with new software.
The melding of silicon and flesh has long been the stuff of science fiction. No longer. In his new body, Chorost was forced to confront complex questions about humans in the machine age: When the senses become programmable, can we trust what they tell us about the world? Can we find new ways of being human and humane in a society increasingly dominated by the logic of the machine?
Rebuilt offers fascinating new perspectives on the long-running debate about technology and human values. Brimming with insight and written with dry, self-deprecating humor, this coming-of-age story unveils—in a way no other book has—the astounding possibilities of a new technological age.
Synopsis
After Michael Chorost suddenly lost what was left of his hearing, he took the radical step of having a cochlear implant -- a tiny computer -- installed in his head. A technological marvel, the device not only restored to him the world of sound but also could be routinely upgraded with new software. Despite his intitial fear of the technology's potentially dehumanizing effects, Chorost's implant allowed him to connect with others in surprising ways: as a cyborg, he learned about love, joined a writing group, and formed deeper friendships. More profoundly, his perception of the world around him was dramatically altered.
Brimming with insight and written with charm and self-deprecating humor, Rebuilt unveils, in personal terms, the astounding possibilities of a new technological age.
About the Author
Having been hard of hearing since he was born, at age 36 in 2001 Michael Chorost had a small computer put into his brain so he could hear sounds and learn to recognize words. Chorost, a Ph.D. education-technology expert, lives in Redwood City, California.