Neil Harbisson is a British-born Catalan artist, cyborg activist, and the world’s first officially recognized cyborg. Born in 1984 with achromatopsia, a rare condition that causes complete color blindness, Harbisson has never experienced color naturally. To overcome this, he co-developed the Eyeborg, an antenna-like device implanted into his skull that translates colors into sound frequencies, allowing him to “hear” colors. His pioneering use of technology to extend human perception has positioned him at the forefront of the transhumanist movement.

Harbisson gained global recognition not only for his artistic endeavors but also for his advocacy of cyborg rights. In 2010, he co-founded the Cyborg Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping people become cyborgs, promoting the use of cybernetic extensions, and defending the rights of individuals who integrate technology into their bodies. His work challenges conventional ideas of human limitation and explores the merging of biology with technology as a means of expanding sensory perception.

As an artist, Harbisson has used his enhanced perception to create unique works of art, including sound portraits that transform people’s faces into musical compositions. His projects often blur the lines between technology, art, and identity, encouraging audiences to rethink what it means to be human. He has delivered keynote speeches at institutions such as TED, the United Nations, and MIT, sharing his insights on artificial senses, human augmentation, and the future of cyborgism.

Neil Harbisson’s groundbreaking work has made him a symbol of the evolving relationship between humans and technology. By integrating cybernetic enhancements into daily life, he demonstrates that technology can not only assist those with disabilities but also expand human capabilities in unprecedented ways. His vision of the future is one where the fusion of biology and technology enables humans to experience the world in entirely new dimensions.