Extraordinary Senses: The Cyborg Who Hears in Colour
Neil Harbisson underwent a controversial surgery to allow him to hear colour.
Neil Harbisson has a condition that means he only sees in greyscale. Throughout his life people would talk to him about colour, but when your world is entirely black and white, it's very difficult to understand. But when he was at university Neil met another student and together they developed an antenna that would translate colours into music notes. Neil underwent a controversial surgery to have the antenna permanently implanted in his skull. He now considers himself a cybernetic organism - a cyborg.
Image: Neil Harbisson with his antenna
Credit: Lars Norgaard
Featured in...
![]()
Extraordinary senses—Outlook
Five people who overcame injury and illness and achieved sensory greatness
Podcast
-
![]()
The Outlook Podcast Archive
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
