Cyber Conversion and Upgrading

Human Emotions

The Cybermen used to be human. They began experimenting with cybernetic parts in order to survive, over time they became more cybernetic than human. During the cyber conversion they have all of their emotions removed, this is partly due to the horror of the process. Without emotions Cybermen no longer remember what it’s like to be human and they grow to believe having no emotions is a better way of life.

Upgrading

Cybermen had been shown to partially upgrade some humans like Toberman, but this was more mind control than replacing body parts with technology. It wasn’t until Attack of the Cybermen that we saw Cybermen completely upgrading humans. The idea was shown again in Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel.

Human Upgrades

Dr. Evans – The Moonbase

The Cybermen infected the sugar supply on the Moonbase, this allowed them to take control of some of the crew. Dr. Evans was the chief doctor on the Moonbase. He was the first victim of the Cybermen’s virus.

Toberman – The Tomb of the Cybermen

In The Tomb of the Cybermen, one of the archaeologist team members Toberman was partially upgraded into cyber form.

Slaves – Attack of the Cybermen

On Telos the Cybermen were using slaves partially converted into Cyber form.

Lytton – Attack of the Cybermen

In Attack of the Cybermen, Lytton was captured by the Cybermen and had started to be upgraded. The Doctor was unable to help him.

Humans – Silver Nemesis

The Cyberman partially coverted two humans in Silver Nemesis to assist them, they were seen guarding the Cyberman spaceship.

Jackie Tyler – Rise of the Cybermen

Cybus industries technology was used to tap into Jackie’s memories.

Miss Hartigan – The Next Doctor

Miss Hartigan was upgraded to the Cyberking in The Next Doctor.

Craig Owens – Closing Time

Craig Owens was partially converted into cyber form but the full conversion failed because the emotional sub systems rebooted.

Webley – Nightmare In Silver

Webley was the owner of Hedgewick’s World of Wonders. He became a human version of the Cyber-Planner.

The Doctor – Nightmare In Silver

The Cyberman consciousness known as the Cyber-Planner tries to take over the Doctors brain.

Danny Pink – Death in Heaven

The Cyberman and Missy planned to upgrade people that had died on Earth.

Inside a Cyberman

Cybernetic Parts

Some of the cybernetic parts that make up a Cyberman

Life Support Unit

In The Tomb of the Cybermen a Cybermans life support unit was damaged.

Distress Signal

Inside every Cyberman is an in-built distress signal.

Emotional Inhibitor

Every Cyberman has an emotional inhibitor, blocking out all emotions. This was originally put in place to stop the physical and emotional trauma caused by the conversion process.

Cybus Industries

John Lumic used the ear pods created by Cybus Industries to control people and force them into being upgraded.