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At the same time, the egregore is not in total control either, as the action of the social or corporate body is determined through the action of its parts, the individuals. These are intelligences that are emergent properties of the complex system that compose their bodies, and the individual people within these social or corporate bodies are not in control because they are constrained by the system in which they are embedded. As we augment our biology with cyborg technologies, we will further adapt our behaviors to the larger networks in which we are embedded, while gaining more control over our own internal networks with comprise our physical presence.

But where does this leave the mind? Let's return to the computer metaphor again, this time examining the relation between hardware and software. Hardware is the machinery and software, the protocol that dictates the performance of the machinery. Because the brain and the body are adaptive systems, what is done with them now helps determine what can be done with them in the future.

How you use your muscles determines how much muscle will be available in the future to use, and the brain has similar features. Just as some software comes pre-installed your brain, for example, already knows how to direct your heart beat, keep your lungs breathing, and blink your eyes, all of which can be likened to the bios settings of a computer. Of course, you can make changes to these settings later by learning how to modify your heartbeat, or regulate your breathing, or consciously go without blinking for extended periods.