Social Fabric

Abstract

Philips Design views the interaction between the human body, apparel and the near environment as the next big challenges. Skin is a particularly useful vehicle for new research and a fascinating subject. It has many functions; it is our largest sexual organ, an electrical network, an input device, a chemical and optical sensor, a display, a thermal regulator, a chemical filter and so on. Through the Skin Probe project, Philips Design explores the kind of materials that could emulate some of the skin’s particular functions. It investigates how we will interact with an increasingly dematerialized product universe. In the not-too-distant future, as media becomes virtual, function and form will be separated. This presents an opportunity to completely rethink our interaction with products and content.