Technological implants will allow us to improve our bodily functions

Body modifications may be the next evolutionary step. From night-vision contact lenses and prosthetic "digital eyes", to 3D-printed skulls, implanted cameras, and brainwave sensors, we're about to get a full load of innovation.

Some are implants, others mere accessories. Some are fun proofs of concept, DIY playthings for would-be cyborgs, while others are medical breakthroughs that will enhance and even save lives.

Many are already ingrained in modern culture; anyone with a hearing aid, or contact lenses, is already engaged in body modification. But now it's going to the next level.

How about 3D printing for your face? In March, surgeons at the University Medical Centre in Utrecht, the Netherlands, successfully replaced a woman's skull with a new one produced by a 3D printer. The patient, who had a rare condition that meant her skull thickened and gave her headaches and poor vision, made a full recovery.

"Implants used to be made by hand in the operating theatre, using a sort of cement, which was far from ideal," surgeon Dr Bon Verweij told Dutch News. "Using 3D printing we can make one to the exact size. This not only has great cosmetic advantages, but patients' brain function often recovers better than using the old method."

3D printing of bones is also possible; could athletes one day upgrade their arms and legs, or models seek to make improvements to their cheekbones?