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Documentary tells the fascinating story of a man wired to hear colour

Cyborg: A documentary tells the intriguing story of Neil Harbisson, who wears an antenna to “hear” colour, but it is lacking in depth and should have probed its subject more, says Simon Ings

11 September 2024

Handout film still from Cyborg: A Documentary. Colour-blind artist Neil Harbisson is the world?s first formally-recognised cyborg. He has an antenna implanted in his head that allows him to ?hear? colour. Now Neil is on a mission to convince the world to follow him and adopt his credo: Design Yourself. Neil?s childhood friend Moon Ribas has collaborated with him on his journey. A dancer and choreographer, she has had implants in her arm and foot which allow her to perceive earthquakes from all over the planet as vibrations in her body. In Carey Born?s engaging documentary Neil and Moon confront their detractors head-on, communicating their controversial ideas about the technological future of humankind. — The back of Neil Harbisson’s head and his sound generator
Sideways Film

Cyborg: A documentary
Carey Born
First Born Films In UK cinemas on 20 September; US to be announced

Neil Harbisson studied music composition at Dartington College of Arts in the UK. He was born with achromatopsia, so is unable to perceive colour of any kind. Not one to ignore a challenge, in 2003 Harbisson recruited product designer Adam Montandon to build him a head-mounted rig that turns colours into musical notes that he can listen to via earphones.

Now in his 40s, Harbisson has evolved. The sound…

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