In gaming, wellness, healthcare and other industries, we are witnessing the rise of an “Internet of Bodies”, catalyzed by the proliferation of what we call somatic IS artefacts: digital sensing devices (e.g., fitness trackers, human digital twins, or smart implants) that are connected to the human body, rely on bodily data as input, and serve bodily rather than cognitive-affective goals. Because of their immediate connection to the human body, the use of somatic IS artefacts generates new forms of entanglements between digital technologies and the human body that have profound functional, behavioural, ethical, and even bodily implications. We develop a framework that provides structure and vocabulary to theorize about types of somatic IS artefacts, the complexities of somatic IS entanglements, and their implications. Our typological theorizing is intended to inspire and guide future research on overlooked and potentially harmful aspects of the design, implementation, use, and impact of somatic IS artefacts.
