Cybernetics

Cybernetics (or Bionics) is the science of merging biological tissue with technology. In 2040, cybernetic enhancements and prosthetic body parts reached a point where people could get them with extreme ease, and thus, the Cyber Age was born.

In the present day, it is estimated that around 70% of the human population has some form of cybernetic, whether it be for medical purposes or for "customization" (a common trend among young adults that involves voluntarily having one's body parts removed and replaced with expensive cybernetics).

Uses
For a full list of cybernetic modifications, see List of Cybernetic Modifications.

Many people use cybernetics as a way to improve their quality of life. This includes medical cybernetics, such as pacemakers, basic prosthetic limbs, and cybernetic eyes. Some people get cybernetics to help them in their professions. For example, a welder might get a prosthetic arm with a plasma torch equipped, as well as an auto-darkening filter over the eyes.

Some dregs of society, such as mercenaries, bounty hunters, and criminals, get illegal cybernetics that can help them in their line of work. Such upgrades include concealed weapons, contraband compartments, and hacking software.

Those with money to spare can purchase A.I. implants to "plug in" an artificial intelligence that can assist the person in countless situations, accessing information on command, and even just providing company.

Alternative Phrasing
While officially, the word "cybernetics" means a piece of technology that is made to assist a living creature by assimilating with it, many people use the word loosely.

The most common alternative use for the word is when someone is referencing somebody who has cybernetic enhancements. People who have minor cybernetic enhancements are not usually referred to as "cybernetics", although it is a vague term.