Color-blind British artist Neil Harbisson had an 'eyeborg' antenna implanted into his skull, enabling him to "hear colors." One end of the device consists of a camera, which captures visual information and sends it to the other end of the device, an audio component implanted in the back of his skull. The device allows him to experience the visual spectrum in the form of vibrations. The audio input part of the device was previously worn outside of his head.
Harbisson was born with achromatopsia, the rarest form of color-blindness in which all vision is in black-and-white. He has been wearing his color-detecting 'eyeborg' for a while, but previously the audio input part of the device was worn outside his head. Since being implanted into his skull, Harbisson has had improved color perception.
What's Driving This Trend
- Implantable Sensory Devices
- The development of implantable devices that enhance or restore human senses can open up opportunities for new products and therapies.
- Augmented Reality as Assistive Technology
- Devices that combine sensory input through cameras and audio can be used to develop wearable AR tools that help those with visual impairments or disabilities.
- Biohacking for Enhanced Perception
- The trend towards biohacking and transhumanism highlights a growing interest in using advanced technology to enhance human abilities, including perception.
Who This Affects Most
- Medical Devices
- The medical industry can explore implantable sensory devices for various sensory impairments, such as vision, hearing, and touch.
- Assistive Technology
- The assistive technology industry can develop wearable devices that enhance sensory input for those with visual impairments or disabilities.
- Human Enhancement
- The human enhancement industry can create biohacking tools and therapies that enhance human perception, including color-detection implants.
