"True........but I thought we were discussing our (human) interpretation of 'cyborg'

Just saying is all.

."

"is a cylon :P"

"Cameron is a cyborg because a significant part of her AI implements a human (Allison) neural network . "

"I guess I'll try to answer seriously for a change...

I'd say Terminators are neither Androids nor Cyborgs.

From my understanding of the android in science fiction, and from its literal meaning, it is a strictly artificial construct; the living tissue overlay of a Termi thereby negates this classification.

A cyborg is usually an inherently organic entity that has been augmented; Termi's technically don't fulfill this criteria, either.

If I had to classify a Terminator, I'd simply call it an artificial organism; it has organic components, but is otherwise entirely an artificial construct. In fact, the only thing that makes it a biological entity, its skin, is of a manufactured and unnatural origin as well. So, Terminators can be called artorgs. That sounds great, doesn't it?"

"Right."

"Yes I know that's what you meant; what I'm asking though is that is it just the biological component of a cyborg that makes it a cyborg?

Let's take the neuron experiment from the other direction and take the position that Cameron isn't a cyborg (meatsuit notwithstanding). If we install a single biological neuron in to her cranium attached to her chip, is she now a cyborg? Is that all the defintion of a cyborg entails? if so, the definition is IMO arbitrary and not very interesting."

"The original question was about classifications; Does a Terminator fall under android or cyborg.

A replicant can be classified as an android if you are referring to the book, in the film they are a artificially constructed human, made organically, so can no longer be considered an android.
The same could be said of the human form Cylons from BSG.

The problem arises from the fact we are trying to classify something that only exists in the imagination of the writer and not in reality, and dealing in terminology that inadequately describes it.

Cyborg was always originally used to describe someone who has had organs or limbs replaced with their mechanical analog, usually so they can still function normally or to enhance performance.
But they were always human to start with.
This precludes Terminators falling under the classification of cyborg because they were never human or alive in the biological sense to start with.

Android (male) or Gynoid (female) are the descriptive terms for a robot that is intentionally made to appear human in form.
A close representation was all that was required for a robot to be considered an android, so even if the skin was still made of unyielding metal it was still considered an android

The problem with Terminators, is that when dealing with Endo's, the Terminator's natural state, it falls under the classification of a robot because while humanoid in shape, it was never intended to appear human.
The sticky point is when they are in infiltration mode and have an organic cover placed over their Endo's to appear human.
In that form, they can be considered an android because while still a robot they now appear to be human."

"Ah, thank you for explaining. :)"

"....annnd, where do you base this "revelation" on? we all seen Cameron's chip, and last I recall, there were no squishy brain parts on it."