Cyberware is the hardware or machine parts implanted in the human body and acting as an interface between the central nervous system and the computers or machinery connected to it.
Cyberware is a catch-all term referring to artificial components that are installed into one's body to replace or enhance existing parts – to provide additional functionality, improve resilience, or generally make runners more skilled at what they do. Installing cyberware decreases Essence; Spellcasting, Chi Casting and Conjuring are therefore unsuited for extensive use of cyberware. Spirit Summoning, Totems and Spirit Control are not impacted by reduced essence.
Cyberware is any cybernetic technology permanently grafted to the human body, especially technology that interfaces with the human nervous system. All Cyberware is artificial. Biological enhancements are considered a separate category, collectively referred to as Bioware. Cyberware generally refers to technology that interacts with (or acts in place of) the human nervous system. Your grandmother with the artificial hip joint is not generally considered a cyborg, even though part of her body is artificial.
Cyberware is commonplace in the cyberpunk world. It is a post-human society, where your meat body is little more than a tool to enhance for functionality or appearance. Cyberfashion (sometimes referred to as Fashionware) is its own thing in the cyberpunk world; enhancing your own body for no other reason than looks. Beside status, cybernetics are most often desired for practical applications. For most people, the main concern with cybernetics is simply being able to afford it.
While cybernetics are still expensive, they are affordable by most of the middle class to some degree, and even by the poor in some situations. The working class, especially professionals, often have two or three implants of some kind. Cyberoptics are useful for recording meetings. Cyberaudio with boosted sensitivity could be useful for eavesdropping on gossips in the executive lounge. While the world of Cyberpunk is a much more violent society, there are plenty of non-violent everyday uses for Cybernetics that make them desirable to almost everyone. Installing cybertechnology is generally considered a major purchase (like buying a laptop or a TV or a car), but is within the means of most people.
But that is not the only concern. Cyberpsychosis is a major problem. The more technology you pack on to your body, the more likely you are to lose touch with your humanity and go crazy. Cyberpsychosis is described in detail on it's own page.
Cykosis
Cyberpsychosis is a mental illness caused by an overload of cybernetic augmentations to the body. The Cyberpsycho loses their sense of identity as a person. They come to view regular people and other living things as weak and inferior. With their enhanced physical abilities and complete disregard for life, Cyberpsychos are extremely dangerous to anyone that crosses their path.
Cyberpsychosis can affect anyone eventually, but the less empathetic a person is, the more susceptible they are to it.
There is no real cure, though treatment is available (see below). The effects are cumulative. A single cyber hand probably won't push you over the edge. Replace all four limbs and both eyes though, and you'll probably start down the slippery slope to madness.
The symptoms are gradual…at first they may simply become more distant to friends and family. They start to identify more with machines than people, and stop doing things that used to give them pleasure (eating, sleeping, socializing, sex, etc). Eventually human interactions become irritating, and then irritation morphs into contempt, and finally violence. [1]Not all cyberpsychos are physically violent. Some have fragmented personalities, some are kleptomaniacs, others are compulsive liars. But violence towards living things, especially people, is most common.[2]
Cyberpsychosis has become a major problem in the technology-saturated world of Cyberpunk. It is actually quite common in many boostergangs, though fairly rare in polite society. Police departments have heavily armed and armored units, called Psycho Squads, who specialize in subduing or killing cyberpsychos. Psycho squads are the SWAT of the cyberpunk world.
Incidentally…the government (and corporations) are not going to wait for you to go over the edge. It is quite common for governments or corporations (who are often the de-facto government) to track people who are known to install lots of cyberware. This is another reason ripperdocs exist…not everyone wants to be on a government watch list for cyberpsychosis.
There are no known cases of T'sa with cykosis.