Neil Harbisson is an artist born with achromatopsia, a condition described as a lack of coloured vision where an individual only sees the world in black, white, and gray. With the simple desire to experience the joys of colour, Harbisson decided to undergo surgery where he permanently implanted an antenna called the eyeborg into his skull. Capable of sensing visible and invisible wavelengths of light, the antenna device translates wavelengths into audible vibrations in his skull where Harbisson perceives the sounds as colour by associating specific sounds with its respective colours.
The antenna also has Bluetooth and WI-FI connection that enables Harbisson to receive phone calls, images, videos, and music. Charged via a USB power cable, the antenna takes three hours to charge and it is said that a full charge lasts around three to four days.
First beginning the development of the antenna with inventor Adam Montandon back in 2003, the first prototype consisted of a camera strapped onto Harbison’s forehead that read colours in real time. An external computer then converted the colours into sound waves for Harbisson to perceive. As time passed, the antenna device improved to the point where it could be surgically implanted and osseointegrated in Harbisson’s head but was rejected by bioethical committees. Regardless, the surgery proceeded and the antenna was implanted by anonymous doctors.
Harbisson has said in an interview with Dezeen that the next stage in improving his antenna would be developing a method that can charge the antenna device using his own body energy, thus completely avoid having to rely on external energy.
Since becoming a cyborg, Harbisson has co-founded the Cyborg Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for cyborg rights, promote the use of cybernetics, and assist those who seek to become cyborgs.
“The future is that we need to start designing ourselves, and this will be the biggest change in our generation,” said Neil Harbisson.
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