My Pip‐Boy, My Self

In their influential essay “The Extended Mind,” Andy Clark and David Chalmers argue that human cognition is not confined to the boundaries of the brain but extends into the tools and technologies with which we interact. The Pip-Boy, a wearable device central to the Fallout universe, serves as a compelling example of this concept. Functioning as a combination of smartphone, personal assistant, and survival tool, the Pip-Boy seamlessly integrates with its user's cognitive processes, facilitating navigation, information storage, and decision-making. This chapter explores the Pip-Boy through the lens of the extended mind, connects this idea to Donna Haraway's concept of cyborgs, and contrasts the Pip-Boy's fictional functionality with real-world medical technologies that assist disabled individuals.