Peter Scott-Morgan
{{Short description|English-American organizational theorist and robotics expert (1958–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Peter Scott-Morgan
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Peter Bowman Scott
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|4|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Wandsworth, London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|6|15|1958|4|19}}
| death_place = Torquay, Devon, England
| citizenship =
| field =
| education = King's College School, Wimbledon
| alma_mater = Imperial College London
| known_for =
}}
Peter Bowman Scott-Morgan ({{ne}} Scott; 19 April 1958 – 15 June 2022) was an English-American organizational theorist, author, and expert in robotics. He had motor neurone disease and was known for his efforts to extend his life by becoming what he called a human cyborg. In 2020 he was the subject of Channel 4's documentary Peter: The Human Cyborg.
Early life and career
Peter Scott was born on 19 April 1958 in Wandsworth, London.[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/peter-scott-morgan-obituary-09p663877 "Peter Scott-Morgan obituary", The Times, 16 June 2022]. Retrieved 18 June 2022 He was educated at King's College School, Wimbledon, where he became head boy of the junior school. He had a BSc in computing science and a PhD (1986) from Imperial College London which was the first doctorate awarded by a robotics department in a British university. His thesis was "A technical and managerial methodology for robotisation: an approach to cost-effective introduction of robotics technology into industry with particular reference to flexible assembly systems".{{cite web |title=Catalogue record for thesis |url=https://library-search.imperial.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma992112604401591&context=L&vid=44IMP_INST:ICL_VU1&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,peter%20scott%20thesis%20robotics&offset=0 |website=library-search.imperial.ac.uk |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=en}} According to his own website, he was a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered IT Professional (CITP).{{cite web |title=Education/qualifications |url=http://www.scott-morgan.com/blog/life-before-mnd/about/education-and-qualifications/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325173113/http://www.scott-morgan.com/blog/life-before-mnd/about/education-and-qualifications/ |archive-date=2019-03-25 |access-date=30 May 2021 |website=Scott-Morgan.com}}{{Third-party inline|date=June 2022}}
He helped develop new techniques in management consultancy while teaching at the London Business School, Rotterdam School of Management and the Hult International Business School in Boston. He published his first book, The Robotics Revolution, in 1984. According to his website, he wrote on methods of identifying the nature and behaviour of complex social systems, and their risks and his techniques were widely adopted by managers, academics, consultants, and others. He published analyses of the ways in which the world economy and international communities behave, and ways of resolving the problems that arise, with an increasing focus on addressing global threats.{{cite web |title=Breaking old habits |url=https://www.scott-morgan.com/blog/life-before-mnd/previous-research/summary/expanded-synopsis-of-key-findings/changing-the-future/breaking-old-habits-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325212516/https://www.scott-morgan.com/blog/life-before-mnd/previous-research/summary/expanded-synopsis-of-key-findings/changing-the-future/breaking-old-habits-2/ |archive-date=2019-03-25 |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=Scott-Morgan.com}} His other books include The Unwritten Rules of the Game (1994),{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/one-mans-tale-of-how-he-transformed-himself-into-a-cyborg-powered-by-science-and-love-40295739.html |first1=Frieda |last1=Klotz |title=One man's tale of how he transformed himself into a cyborg, powered by science and love |work=Irish Independent |date=11 April 2021 |access-date=19 June 2022 |language=en}} and The Reality of Our Global Future (2012).[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14428037-the-reality-of-our-global-future "The Reality of our Global Future", GoodReads.com]. Retrieved 19 June 2022
Adopting technology
After being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/worlds-first-cyborg-dr-peter-scott-morgan-dies-aged-64-after-motor-neurone-disease-battle/F7QI4R7YEIKJXC4SYDBBXB7HEE/ |title='World's first cyborg' Dr Peter Scott-Morgan dies aged 64 after motor neurone disease battle|work=The New Zealand Herald |date= 15 June 2022|access-date= 19 June 2022}} in 2017, Scott-Morgan underwent a series of operations which allowed him to control, through technological innovation, the muscles, and organs which were wasting as a result of the condition. To become what he called a human cyborg,{{cite news |last1=Segalov |first1=Michael |title='I choose to thrive': the man fighting motor neurone disease with cyborg technology |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/16/i-choose-to-thrive-the-man-fighting-motor-neurone-disease-with-cyborg-technology |access-date=30 May 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=16 August 2020 |language=en}} he adopted procedures using technology to bypass his natural body systems, including a full laryngectomy, and laser eye surgery to optimise his sight at a suitable distance from his computer screen. He also developed an avatar of his face to allow him to indicate a greater range of expressions. He became able "to operate a computer using eye-tracking technology, stand up using his wheelchair, and demonstrate emotions through the avatar he created. His disease caused his muscles to atrophy, so he eventually needed a catheter and colostomy bag ... as well as surgery on his larynx to keep saliva from filling his lungs."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/human-cyborg-peter-scott-morgan |first1=Jenny |last1=Goldsberry |title='Human cyborg' Peter Scott-Morgan dead at 64 |work=Washington Examiner |date=15 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |language=en}}
The transformations were shown in a Channel 4 documentary, Peter: The Human Cyborg, in 2020, and Scott-Morgan wrote a book about the experience, Peter 2.0.{{cite news |last1=Littlejohn |first1=Georgina |title=Peter Scott-Morgan: The extraordinary true story told in the documentary Peter: The Human Cyborg on Channel 4 tonight |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/peter-scott-morgan-true-story-told-documentary-peter-human-cyborg-channel-4-tonight-610781 |access-date=30 May 2021 |work=inews.co.uk |date=26 August 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Peter: The Human Cyborg |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/peter-the-human-cyborg |website=Channel 4 |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/dr-peter-scott-morgan-dies-7212028 |first1=Colleen |last1=Smith |title=Dr Peter Scott-Morgan dies: Sadness at death of world's first 'fully robotic person' |work=DevonLive.com |publisher=Reach plc |date=15 June 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022 |language=en}}
Personal life
Scott-Morgan and his husband Francis, {{ne}} Morgan, became a couple in 1979, jointly adopted their merged surname in 1990, and entered a civil partnership on 21 December 2005, being the first couple in England to do so, on the day it became legally possible.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4549260.stm |title=Gay couples among first to 'wed'|work=BBC News'|date=21 December 2005|access-date=19 June 2022}} Nine years later, at 8.30 am on 10 December 2014, they were among the first couples in England to retrospectively convert their partnership to a marriage, and because the marriages were retrospective to the time and date of civil partnership, they are listed as the first gay marriage in England.{{cite web |title=Personal life |url=http://www.scott-morgan.com/blog/life-before-mnd/about/personal-life/ |website=Scott-Morgan.com |access-date=30 May 2021}} They lived in Torquay, Devon.
From 2018, Scott-Morgan was a trustee of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.{{cite web| url=https://www.mndassociation.org/former-trustee-dr-peter-scott-morgan-dies/ |title=Former trustee and world-famous robotics scientist, Dr Peter Scott-Morgan, has died aged 64 after fighting to 'thrive' despite MND|publisher=Motor Neurone Disease Association|date=17 June 2022|access-date= 19 June 2022}} He and his husband also set up a foundation, "Right to Thrive", campaigning for additional funding, changes to health guidelines, and the greater use of technology to support those with the disease.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dr-peter-scottmorgan-first-cyborg-dies-b2101629.html |first1=Thomas |last1=Kingsley |title=Dr Peter Scott-Morgan dies: British scientist who became 'world's first cyborg' passes away |work=The Independent |date=15 June 2022 |access-date=18 June 2022 |language=en}}
Death
He died on 15 June 2022, aged 64, from complications of motor neurone disease.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/06/16/peter-scott-morgan-scientist-used-robotics-overcome-effects/ "Peter Scott-Morgan, scientist who used robotics to overcome the effects of his Motor Neurone Disease – obituary"], The Telegraph, 16 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/worlds-first-human-cyborg-dr-peter-scott-morgan-dies-aged-64-ksb6prgs5|title=World's 'first true cyborg' Dr Peter Scott-Morgan dies aged 64 |first=Debbie |last=White |via=www.thetimes.co.uk |date=16 June 2022 }}
Selected publications
- {{cite book|last=Scott-Morgan| first=Peter| title=Peter 2.0| publisher=Michael Joseph| date=2021| isbn=978-0241447093}}
- {{cite book |last1=Scott-Morgan |first1=Peter |title=The reality of our global future : how five unstoppable high-tech trends will dominate our lives and transform our world |date=2012 |publisher=[Createspace] |location=[North Charleston, S.C.] |isbn=978-1470115487}}
- {{cite book |last1=Scott-Morgan |first1=Peter |title=The reality of global crises : why good beginnings are ending badly and leaving world-leaders increasingly powerless |date=2012 |publisher=[Createspace] |location=[North Charleston, S.C.] |isbn=9781470115425}}
- {{cite book |last1=Scott-Morgan |first1=Peter |title=The unwritten rules of the game : master them, shatter them, and break through the barriers to organizational change |date=1994 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |isbn=978-0070570757}}
- {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Peter B. |title=The robotics revolution : the complete guide for managers and engineers |date=1984 |publisher=B. Blackwell |location=Oxford, OX, U.K. |isbn=978-0631131625}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.scott-morgan.com/}}
- [https://www.scottmorganfoundation.org/ The Scott-Morgan Foundation]
- {{IMDb name|12704347}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott-Morgan, Peter}}
Category:20th-century English scientists
Category:21st-century English scientists
Category:Alumni of Imperial College London
Category:Artificial intelligence researchers
Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom
Category:English LGBTQ scientists
Category:People educated at King's College School, London
Category:Scientists from Torquay
Category:People from Wandsworth