*2.2. Implant Variety*

The range of possible technology that can be implanted is broad and imaginative. Software developer and biohacker Tim Cannon has experienced a variety of implants. His latest is called the Northstar which lights up under his skin when a magne<sup>t</sup> is close by. Then there is Lepht Anonym who plans to have a small compass chip implanted near her left knee, along with a power coil that, rather like an RFID, can be charged from an external source.

Meanwhile Moon Ribas has a seismic sensor implanted in her elbow that allows her to feel earthquakes through vibrations, whilst Neil Harbisson, who is otherwise colour blind, has a camera which is attached to his skull. Different colours cause the frequency of vibrations to his skull to vary. As a result he has learned a very high degree of colour discrimination. The technology translates colour frequencies into sound frequencies [17] which are translated into vibrations via an actuator. Initially, Harbisson memorised the frequencies related to each colour, but subsequently he decided to permanently attach the set up to his head.

The project was developed further so that Harbisson was able to perceive colour saturation as well as colour hues. Software was then developed that enabled Harbisson to perceive up to 360 different hues through microtones and saturation through different volume levels [12]. What is particularly interesting about Harbisson's experience is that his discrimination between different colours has

improved over time as his brain has adjusted to the different vibrations experienced. Clearly the extent of brain adaptability is a pointer to what can be expected in general with regard to either extending the present range of sensory input or rather inputting a complex range of new sensory input information into the human brain that till now has not been possible.
