Neil Harbisson: I listen to color

Summary

Neil Harbisson, born with achromatopsia (total color blindness), shares his journey of 'hearing' color through a cybernetic device. This electronic eye translates color frequencies into sound, allowing him to perceive color audibly. Over time, this experience transformed into a new perception, altering his daily life, from listening to paintings in galleries to composing music with food. Harbisson explores the fusion of technology and the human body, promoting the Cyborg Foundation, which encourages sensory extension through technology, enabling people to perceive the world beyond human limitations.

Takeaways

• 👁️ The speaker was born with achromatopsia, a rare condition causing total color blindness.
• 🎵 Since 2004, the speaker has been able to hear colors through an electronic eye that translates color frequencies into sounds via bone conduction.
• 🎨 Colors like purple, red, and yellow have distinct sounds, and the speaker now hears these frequencies constantly.
• 🤖 Over time, the speaker's brain adapted to the device, allowing them to perceive and dream in color, leading to their identification as a cyborg.
• 🖼️ Visiting art galleries and listening to paintings like Picasso's has become akin to attending concerts, as the speaker now 'listens' to visual art.
• 🛒 Walking through a supermarket, especially near cleaning products, is a vibrant experience filled with musical-like melodies.
• 👗 The speaker's wardrobe choices have shifted, now dressing based on how colors sound rather than how they look.
• 🍽️ The speaker can arrange food on a plate to 'compose' their favorite songs, envisioning restaurants where meals are music-themed.
• 🎶 The speaker creates sound portraits of people by listening to their facial features, finding unique connections between individuals through sound.
• 🌈 The speaker has extended their color perception to include infrared and ultraviolet, enhancing their sensory experiences beyond normal human vision.

Q & A

What is achromatopsia, the condition the speaker was born with?

Achromatopsia is a rare visual condition characterized by total color blindness, meaning the individual only sees the world in grayscale and cannot perceive color.

How does the speaker perceive color through sound?

The speaker uses an electronic eye that detects the color frequency in front of them. The device sends this frequency to a chip implanted in the back of their head, allowing them to 'hear' color through bone conduction.

What was the initial challenge for the speaker when they started hearing colors?

At first, the speaker had to memorize the names of each color's corresponding sound frequency. However, over time, this information became a perception, and later, a feeling, enabling them to identify colors instinctively.

How did the speaker’s dreams change after using the electronic eye?

The speaker began to dream in color, which marked a turning point where they felt that the software and their brain had fully united, making the cybernetic device feel like a natural part of their body.

What was the significance of the speaker’s 2004 passport photo?

The speaker successfully convinced the UK passport office that their electronic eye was a part of their body, resulting in their passport photo showing them wearing the device. This marked a significant moment in recognizing the device as part of their identity.

How did hearing color affect the speaker’s experience in art galleries?

The speaker described visiting art galleries as similar to attending a concert, where they could 'listen' to paintings like a Picasso as though they were music.

In what way did the speaker’s fashion choices change after they began hearing colors?

The speaker began dressing based on how colors sound rather than how they look, choosing outfits that form harmonious chords or evoke specific moods.

How does the speaker use their ability to hear color in relation to food?

The speaker arranges food on their plate based on color frequencies, effectively composing music with their meals. This allows them to 'eat their favorite song.'

What does the speaker mean by creating ‘sound portraits’ of people?

The speaker can point their electronic eye at people’s faces and write down the notes they hear based on their color frequencies. These notes are then used to create sound portraits of individuals.

Why did the speaker start the Cyborg Foundation, and what is its mission?

The Cyborg Foundation was created to help people become cyborgs by extending their senses with technology. The foundation encourages individuals to use technology as part of their bodies to enhance their sensory perception and gain new knowledge.