Mind slaves

Imagine that in the very long term (2050 and beyond) technology will allow people to link their brains to the machine world, perhaps using nanotech implants connected to each synapse to relay brain activity to a high speed neural replica hosted by a computer. When this technology matures, people will do wonderful things such as using machine sensors as extensions to their own capabilities. They will use android bodies to move around and experience distant places and activities as if they were there in person.

But here's the scary part to all this

People may not be able to die completely. If their body is an irrelevance, and there are many restore points from which they can be recovered, friends, family, or even the state might keep them 'alive' as long as they are useful.

And depending on the law, they might even become a form of slave labour, their minds used for information processing or creativity whether they wish it or not. It has often truly been noted that there are worse fates than death.

http://www.thinkaloo.com