Our scenario’s highly competitive socio-economic hierarchy is a result of the 1977 Anti-Discrimination Act being repealed, and no longer protecting principles of anti-discrimination, equal opportunity, and diversity. In its place is a narrow and superficial ideal, concerned with possessing a naturally fit physique and an organic lifestyle. Projecting this model has become how people gain favour, opportunity, and advancement in society. Contemporary biotechnology is seen as an unsightly necessity for those without the time and resources to eat an organic and nutritious diet, exercise regularly, and live in a spacious unpolluted environment. It is a society with a distinct socio-economic hierarchy, revolving around the renouncement, use, and abuse of body-modifying technology.

My final prototype was inspired by the Japanese phenomenon of Karōshi, literally “death by overwork” (Weller 2017).  Fatal heart attacks and strokes have been attributed to high-pressure work environments that induce lifestyles of extreme stress and malnutrition. It is a concept that currently pervades Asian countries, however in our speculative future this will have crept into the social, economic, and technological facets of Western society.

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This device is commonplace to those running the rat race, despite being a technological taboo relegated to the secrecy of the home. It is a technology discretely produced by the Health and Wellness industry, while simultaneously marketing their organic products and services openly. It is an intervention for the middle and lower-classes, who struggle to keep up with both the demands of society and the workplace, lacking the time to invest in their bodies as they focus on earning a living. To maximise their vitality and productivity during the day, they hook themselves up to this restorative device overnight.

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The device administers a combination of oxygen, analgesics, and general anaesthesia to ensure users are well-rested in preparation for the following day. At a programmed awakening time, a stimulant is administered to enhance physical performance and cognitive function, while a naso-gastral tube supplies the body with a nutritionally optimised meal replacement. These functions are all synced up to a user’s personal organiser, so that it’s cycle is tailored to each user’s schedule and energy needs.

A blood sampling feature can evaluate the body’s health metrics, customising a prescription cartridge for the machine that users may purchase from specialty stores. This cartridge features an amalgamation of supplements and medicine to compensate for any deficiencies or ailments detected in the body.

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Users of this device are essentially ‘hacking sleep’, optimising their body’s anabolic state to accelerate its natural restorative functions. While use of this device may be socially frowned upon, it is not illegal. However, there are those that repurpose the device for recreational use, as a medium for enhanced sensations like euphoria and intoxication. Some have even used it as a means of carrying out euthanasia, when the burden of the daily grind has become too much for even the machine to alleviate.

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Citation

Weller C. 2017,  Japan is facing a ‘death by overwork’ problem — here’s what it’s all about, Business Insider, viewed 1 October 2018, <https://www.businessinsider.com.au/what-is-karoshi-japanese-word-for-death-by-overwork-2017-10?r=US&IR=T >.