Born with the inability to see color, Neil Harbisson has turned his unique condition into an equally unique career as the world’s first officially recognized cyborg artist. Harbisson has achromatopsia, a severe form of color blindness that meant he could only see the world in greyscale. This limitation, however, led him to develop a groundbreaking device: an antenna, known as the "eyeborg," which is implanted in his skull. The device enables him to perceive colors beyond the scope of typical human vision.
The antenna works by converting light waves into sound waves through a process involving a camera attachment and a computer. Each color corresponds to a different sound on the musical scale. This means Harbisson can hear a symphony of color through vibrations in his skull. His unique sensory input goes beyond human visual spectrum limits, allowing him to perceive infrared and ultraviolet. This cybernetic enhancement not only compensates for his inability to see color but also enhances his perception of the visual world in a manner that is unattainable by those with normal vision.
Harbisson’s work challenges traditional perceptions of sensory experience and the potential for cybernetic technology to extend human capabilities. He collaborates extensively across artistic disciplines, creating works that explore the intersection between technology and perception. His performances often involve translating live colors into live sounds, sometimes using the hues from audience members' faces or from abstract paintings as his medium.
Aside from artistic expression, the implications of Harbisson's work are vast, suggesting new ways in which technology might overcome human limitations. He has also become a voice for what he terms the "cyborg rights movement," advocating for individuals who wish to integrate technology into their bodies for expanded sensory experiences or regained abilities.
Connected not only to nearby devices via Bluetooth but also to the internet, Harbisson can receive phone calls, music, videos, or any other sensory input directly into his consciousness. These capabilities make him not only a hybrid of technology and biology but also a living embodiment of the future of human sensory expansion. Through his life and work, Neil Harbisson invites us to reconsider the boundaries between technology and the human body, posing profound questions about what it might mean to be human in the increasingly cyborg future.
