Neil Harbisson

Neil Harbisson (born 27 July 1982, London, United Kingdom) is a British–Catalan contemporary artist, cyborg activist, and co-founder of the Cyborg Foundation. He is best known as the world’s first officially recognised cyborg, a title acknowledged when the British government allowed him to appear in his passport photograph wearing a permanent antenna implant. Harbisson’s work explores the merging of technology and human senses, challenging the boundaries between biology and cybernetics, and raising questions about identity, perception, and human evolution in the digital age.

Early Life and Background

Neil Harbisson was born to an Irish father and a Catalan mother and was raised in Mataró, Catalonia, Spain. From birth, he suffered from achromatopsia, a rare visual condition that causes complete colour blindness. As a result, he perceives the world entirely in shades of grey.
During his early education, Harbisson studied art and music, developing a keen interest in sound and form as alternative ways of interpreting visual experience. He later attended the Institut Alexandre Satorras and subsequently studied fine arts at the Instituto de Educación Secundaria in Spain. His passion for exploring sensory perception later guided him toward integrating technology into his artistic and personal identity.

Development of the Antenna (Eyeborg)

To overcome his inability to perceive colour, Harbisson collaborated with Adam Montandon, a cybernetics student, in 2003 to develop a sensory device known as the eyeborg. The device consists of an antenna permanently implanted into his skull, with a sensor that detects colour frequencies and converts them into audible vibrations transmitted directly to his skull bone.
Through this system, Harbisson can “hear” colours as different sound frequencies. For instance, red might correspond to a low tone while violet produces a high tone. Over time, his brain learned to associate specific tones with colours, allowing him to perceive the full spectrum—including ultraviolet and infrared light, which are invisible to the human eye.
The antenna has thus extended his sensory capacity beyond natural human limits, leading him to identify as a cyborg, a being that is part human and part machine.

Recognition as the First Cyborg

In 2004, the British government officially recognised Harbisson’s cybernetic identity by allowing his passport photo to include the antenna attached to his head. This was the first legal acknowledgement of a cyborg identity by a national government.
This recognition became a landmark event in discussions about the rights of humans who integrate technology into their bodies, contributing to the emerging field of cyborg law and ethics.

Artistic Work and Philosophy

Neil Harbisson’s art explores the relationship between sensory perception, technology, and identity. He uses his enhanced senses to create artworks based on sonochromatism—the translation of colour frequencies into musical notes.
Major artistic themes include:

• Sound-to-Colour Translation: Transforming sounds or voices into colour compositions.
• Colour-to-Music Conversion: Producing musical pieces based on colour patterns and human skin tones.
• Perception and Identity: Exploring how technology redefines what it means to be human.

Harbisson has produced a series of works where he “paints with sound,” interpreting portraits and landscapes through the tones generated by colours. His sound portraits of famous figures translate facial colours into musical compositions, while his colour symphonies represent everyday environments as sonic landscapes.

The Cyborg Foundation

In 2010, Neil Harbisson co-founded the Cyborg Foundation in Barcelona with Moon Ribas, a fellow cyborg artist and performance activist. The foundation was established to:

• Support individuals who wish to become cyborgs by integrating cybernetic technologies.
• Promote cyborg art as a new form of creative expression.
• Advocate for cyborg rights, including the right to self-design and technological self-determination.

The organisation also addresses social and ethical issues related to biohacking, human augmentation, and the coexistence of biological and artificial intelligence. It has collaborated with researchers, artists, and engineers worldwide to explore the future of human–technology interaction.

Achievements and Recognition

Neil Harbisson’s pioneering work has made him a central figure in the global discussion of transhumanism, post-humanism, and cyborg identity. Some of his notable accomplishments include:

• Being the first person officially recognised as a cyborg by a government.
• Delivering talks at international platforms such as TEDGlobal, the United Nations, and numerous academic institutions.
• Inclusion in influential lists of technological innovators and futurists.
• Featured in exhibitions, documentaries, and art installations exploring human evolution and cybernetic identity.

He has also inspired discussions in legal, ethical, and philosophical fields regarding the rights of augmented individuals and the implications of merging organic and digital life.

Ethical and Philosophical Dimensions

Neil Harbisson’s work raises profound ethical questions about what it means to be human in an age of technological enhancement. His existence blurs distinctions between human, machine, and art, prompting reflection on issues such as:

• Cyborg Rights: Should augmented individuals have legal protections for their implanted technology?
• Identity and Privacy: How do technological extensions affect personal identity and autonomy?
• Evolutionary Implications: Could technological augmentation represent the next stage of human evolution?

Harbisson advocates for cyborgism—the idea that humans should be free to design their own senses and perceptions. He views the body as an open platform for creativity and believes that extending human perception can enhance empathy and connection with the environment.

Later Developments and Public Engagement

Harbisson continues to develop new forms of sensory technology. His antenna now includes Bluetooth connectivity, allowing him to receive data, images, and even phone calls directly into his skull. This further merges his biological and digital experiences, expanding his notion of communication and perception.
He remains active as a lecturer, artist, and activist, travelling globally to speak about cyborg rights, human–machine integration, and sensory evolution. His collaborations with artists and scientists continue to influence the broader discourse on the ethics and aesthetics of bio-technology.