First government recognised cyborg comes to IMWorld 2017

Newsroom 08/09/2017 | 09:59

Neil Harbisson, the first cyborg officially recognised by a government, will be on the Main Stage at IMWorld 6th edition, taking place between October 4-5 at Romexpo in Bucharest. Business Review is the exclusive media center partner for this event.

Catalan-raised, British-born contemporary artist and cyborg activist, Neil was born with an extreme form of color blindness that results in his seeing in grayscale. He grew up in Catalonia, Spain, seeing the world in black & white, until he had an antenna implanted in his skull and develop a sensor that transposed color frequencies into sound frequencies.

His antenna uses audible vibrations in his skull to report information to him. This includes measurements of electromagnetic radiation, phone calls, music, as well as video or images which are translated into sound. The antenna’s internet connection allows him to receive colors from space as well as images, videos, music or phone calls directly into his head via external devices such as mobile phones or satellites.

Harbisson identifies himself as a cyborg, he feels both his mind and body are united to cybernetics. He doesn’t feel he is using or wearing technology, instead he feels he is technology.

Because the antenna cannot be detached, The UK Passport Office admitted it as part of his body and he had become an officially recognized cyborg.

His artworks investigate the relationship between color and sound, experiment the boundaries of human perception and explore the use of artistic expression via sensory extensions.

In 2010 he co­-founded the Cyborg Foundation with Moon Ribas, an international organization that aims to help humans become cyborgs, defend cyborg rights and promote cyborgism as a social and artistic movement.

On IMWorld’s Main Stage, Neil Harbisson will talk about The Renaissance of our Species.

This talk will explore how taking an active part in our own biological evolution is no longer a theory, but an option. Becoming technology, instead of using or wearing technology, opens up the possibility of having additional organs and senses beyond the ones confined to our species. By merging ourselves with technology we can become the designers of our own body and perception; and we can increase our survival possibilities in earth and in outer space. Are we witnessing the renaissance of our species?

Hearing Colors, a short, winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s first branded content award, is a good way to understand the life story of Neil Harbisson https://vimeo.com/118166526

Beside Neil Harbisson, on IMWorld Main Stage will talk more than 15 international keynote speakers. Here is a short selection:

  • Milan Lakhani – Senior Client Principal, Business Innovation Centre, Konica Minolta, will talk about Digital transformation through the lens of innovation
  • Erik Kruse – Networked Society Evangelist, Ericsson will have a session on Networked Society – In a connected world, everything is possible
  • Martijn Aslander – Technology Philosopher, Elvenstone Networks has announced his topic on We are living in a new Renaissance
  • Peter Hesseldahl, Management consultant, futurist and author, will talk about The We-economy – The We-economy – Beyond the Industrial logic.
  • Grimur Fjeldsted, Chief Digital Officer, Transform XO, has a session on Digital Transformation and the People Factor

 

In order to have access to all 15 international keynote speakers you need Digital Architect Pass or any other PRO Pass .

IMWorld in black & white

Because technology radically changed Neil Harbisson’s life by giving him the opportunity to hear colors instead of recognizing them through sight, IMWorld is going to black & white for an entire week, starting Friday, October 8th.

“We want to emphasize the essential role that technology has in our lives by introduce an example of using tech not only for solving human issues, but to upgrade their capabilities. As the antenna implant increases Neil’s abilities to perceive our world, so the adoption of technology by businesses is a must-have nowadays to survive in the new digital economy”, said Alexandru Maxineanu, project manager IMWorld.

The sixth IMWorld will gather 140 speakers on 6 event stages: Main Stage, SMBs & Enterprise Solutions, Developers, Digital & E-Commerce, Marketing & Innovation and Security Stage.

They correspond to 4 exhibition areas that will present 2,300 IT and digital solutions.

Over 8,500 visitors are expected to attend, out of which 3,000 at C level.

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