Commissioned by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and conducted by RAND Europe and Frazer Nash Consulting, the study "Cultural and technological change in the future information environment" looks at six technologies and information environments and their implications for British defense.

They include:

Automated information systems

A virtual metaverse

Augmented and mixed reality

Advanced connectivity

Human augmentation

Information security

A major theme running through these information environments is transhumanism — the merger of humans and machines.

According to the report, "Advances in object connectivity may eventually extend to human bodies. Researchers refer to the potential development of an internet-linked network of human-connected devices collecting end users' biometric data as an 'internet of bodies […] An 'internet of bodies' may also ultimately lead to an 'internet of brains', i.e. human brains connected to the internet to facilitate direct brain-to-brain communication and enable access to online data networks.'"

The Internet of Bodies and the coming Internet of Brains fall specifically under the category of "human augmentation technologies," which "refer to technologies that enhance human capabilities, either physically or cognitively."

According to the report, the technological applications most associated with human augmentation include:

Wearable devices and implants for tracking and analyzing physiological and environmental data (e.g. biochips and implantable sensors). These technologies aim to achieve real-time continuous monitoring of physiological data to understand human health conditions and performance

Sensory augmentation technologies such as hearing and retinal implants designed to improve or augment sensory activities, particularly vision and hearing. Smart prosthetics are a related category, including exoskeletons, i.e. whole-body robotic suits that enhance end users' physical capabilities and improve their mobility, strength, endurance and other abilities

Brain-computer or brain-brain interfaces that establish direct communications between human brains and/or computer devices