Neil Harbisson, born on July twenty-seventh, nineteen eighty-four, is a pioneering British-Irish experimental artist and lecturer, renowned for his unique contributions to the realm of cyborg art. Raised in Catalonia, he has gained international recognition as the world's first legally recognized cyborg, a title that underscores his innovative approach to art and technology.
Harbisson's journey into the world of sensory expansion began in two thousand four when he had an antenna implanted in his skull, which he perceives as a new sensory organ. This remarkable device allows him to experience color, including infrared and ultraviolet, through audible vibrations transmitted via bone conduction. It also enables him to receive images, color data, and signals from external sources, including the internet, thus broadening the horizons of human perception.
In two thousand ten, he co-founded the Cyborg Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating for cyborg rights and supporting individuals seeking to enhance their sensory experiences. His commitment to this cause reflects his belief in the importance of recognizing and defending the rights of those with technologically extended bodies.
Furthering his advocacy, in two thousand seventeen, Harbisson co-founded the Transpecies Society, which champions self-design and the acknowledgment of individuals with non-human identities or sensory systems. Through his artistic and activist endeavors, he continues to challenge conventional perceptions of identity and sensory experience.