Irene Carolina Veniou is a journalist in one of the most reliable political newspapers in Greece, called “To Vima” www.tovima.gr, www.tovimadaily.gr, for the scientific section.

She interviewed me about the Eyeborg project.

Irene Carolina Veniou: What is the Eyeborg? And how does it work exactly?

Adam Montandon: The Eyeborg is a device I invented for Neil Harbisson. Neil is completely colourblind, and can only see in black, white and shades of grey. His world is totaly black and white. I thought, if he can’t see colours, why shouldn’t he be able to HEAR colours?

So I invented the eyeborg, it basically turns colours into sounds. Colour is a very fast wavelength, so we slow it down, so it stops becoming a visible wave and starts becoming an audible wave.

So red is a very low frequency and becomes a low note, violet is a very high frequency and becomes a high note, and all the other colours are in between. That way you can hear the colour spectrum.

Irene Carolina Veniou: Does it run on batteries?

Adam Montandon: Yes. It runs off of a small laptop, powered by a battery, so Neil can run around without needing to be plugged in!

Irene Carolina Veniou: What are its’ dimensions?

Adam Montandon: Well, there are lots of different versions in lots of different styles. Some fit in a baseball cap and others are larger.

Irene Carolina Veniou: How did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Adam Montandon: I was giving a lecture at Neil’s college on Cyborg technologies and how we can change the way we see the world. Neil approached me afterwards and said that he didn’t see the world the same as everybody else. It was at that moment that I knew I had to make something for him.

Irene Carolina Veniou: When was it originally built?

Adam Montandon: On the 22nd March 2004 was Neil’s Cyborg Birthday

Irene Carolina Veniou: Was Neil the first to use it?

Adam Montandon: Yes

Irene Carolina Veniou:. Were there any newer versions, and if yes, how sophisticated where there in comparison to the first one?

Adam Montandon: The main improvements have been making the device smaller and simpler to use, lighter to carry, and easier for Neil to apply to his every day life as a cyborg. The most interesting part is that Neil can change and modify the Eyeborg himself, so he can change and adapt it to suit his needs.

Irene Carolina Veniou: Can the device be used throughout the day, for everyday tasks, by people with achromatopsia?

Adam Montandon: Yes.

Irene Carolina Veniou: What are your future plans about this revolutionary device? Is it going to hit the market soon?

Adam Montandon: It’s not really a mass market project. Its not for everyone. Lots of people want to hear colour for a little while, but very few people want to become a cyborg!

Irene Carolina Veniou: Do you have a rough price in mind?

Adam Montandon: We can custom make technology for peoples needs, so we usually invent things for individual people, that way everything is perfect for them, so the cost depends on how much technology they want, and how many “upgrades” they want to perform on themselves.

Irene Carolina Veniou: How easily can a person without any musical knowledge use the Eyeborg, do you think?

Adam Montandon: Its very easy for anyone to use, because it is such a natural thing, to hear colour through your ears instead of seeing it with your eyes.

If you have enjoyed this, why not check out these other interesting things?