TED Radio Hour: "The Skin We're In"

Host: Manoush Zomorodi | Release Date: August 8, 2025

Overview

In the episode titled "The Skin We're In," NPR’s TED Radio Hour delves into the profound significance of skin and touch in our lives. Exploring the intersection of technology, personal identity, and societal perceptions, this episode features insightful discussions with experts and individuals who navigate the complexities of skin-related experiences. From cutting-edge haptic technologies to personal journeys of self-acceptance, the episode underscores the pivotal role our skin plays in shaping our interactions with the world and ourselves.

1. The Future of Touch: Haptic Technology with Katherine Kuchenbecker

Timestamp: 01:17 - 18:45

Key Points: Katherine Kuchenbecker, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, is a pioneer in the field of haptics—the science of applying touch sensation and control to interactions with technology. Her work focuses on making digital interactions more tactile and responsive, thereby bridging the emotional and sensory gaps created by our increasingly digital world.

Notable Quotes:

• Katherine Kuchenbecker (02:12): “Your sense of touch is actually much broader than only forces. You can also feel where something is touching you on your skin. You can feel temperature getting warmer, colder. You can feel vibrations.”
• Katherine Kuchenbecker (10:05): “We could give the robot some understanding of what's happening to its body during the embrace.”

Discussion Highlights:

• Haptic Interfaces: Katherine discusses the limitations of current touchscreens, which primarily use vibrations to signal notifications. She envisions a future where devices communicate through nuanced tactile feedback, mimicking human touch to create more meaningful interactions.

• Huggybot: One of her notable projects is Huggybot, a soft and responsive robot designed to emulate human hugs. Unlike traditional robots with hard surfaces, Huggybot is engineered to provide a comforting embrace, responding to user interactions with squeezes, pats, and rubs. Katherine emphasizes the importance of the robot knowing when to let go, ensuring the interaction feels natural and not creepy.

• Human-Robot Interaction: Through experiments, Katherine found that people appreciated Huggybot’s proactive gestures, such as spontaneous squeezes, which made them feel cared for. However, the robot’s ability to disengage when the user did was crucial to prevent discomfort.

Insights: Katherine's work underscores the potential of haptic technology to enrich human interactions with machines, making them more empathetic and responsive. By integrating touch into digital communication, we can foster deeper emotional connections and mitigate the often impersonal nature of current technology interfaces.

2. Replicating Human Sensation: Artificial Skin with Ana Maria Coclita

Timestamp: 19:26 - 28:20

Key Points: Ana Maria Coclita, a materials scientist and professor at the University of Bari in Italy, is at the forefront of developing "Smart Skin"—an artificial skin that can mimic the complex sensory functions of human skin. Her innovative work aims to restore touch sensations for burn victims and enhance the sensory capabilities of prosthetics and robots.

Notable Quotes:

• Ana Maria Coclita (21:14): “We have for the first time produced an artificial skin that can respond to three touch, so force, temperature, and humidity.”
• Ana Maria Coclita (25:07): “With this type of artificial skin, we could produce electrical signals that could send directly the information, could either stimulate the rest of the arm or the leg, or they could transmit the information to neural processes in the brain.”

Discussion Highlights:

• Smart Skin Technology: Ana Maria introduces Smart Skin, an ultra-thin artificial skin capable of detecting force, temperature, and humidity at a high resolution. This technology is designed to be virtually invisible and adaptable to various surfaces, including gloves and temporary tattoos.

• Nanoscopic Architecture: The artificial skin is composed of nanoscopic cylinders filled with a polymer that reacts to stimuli by expanding, thereby compressing an outer piezoelectric material to generate electrical signals. These signals can be interpreted by computers or directly interfaced with neural prosthetics, potentially restoring touch sensations for amputees.

• Applications: Beyond medical uses, Smart Skin has significant implications for robotics. By equipping robots with this technology, they can achieve more sensitive and safer interactions with their environment and humans, reducing the likelihood of accidents and enhancing their functional capabilities.

Insights: Ana Maria’s Smart Skin represents a monumental leap in replicating the human sense of touch. By integrating this technology into prosthetics and robots, we can not only improve the quality of life for individuals with sensory impairments but also create more advanced and interactive machines that better understand and respond to their surroundings.

3. Embracing Identity: Lee Thomas on Living with Vitiligo

Timestamp: 28:20 - 42:05

Key Points: Lee Thomas, a veteran TV news anchor and entertainment reporter, shares his personal journey of living with vitiligo—a condition that causes the loss of skin pigment. His story highlights the challenges of self-acceptance, societal perceptions, and the impact of visible skin conditions on personal and professional life.

Notable Quotes:

• Lee Thomas (34:26): “I just couldn't give up. I couldn't quit. So I decided to just put on makeup and keep it moving.”
• Lee Thomas (36:51): “It was like breathing. You know what I mean? It's like. Like breathing. It was normal again.”
• Lee Thomas (41:01): “I'm proud of my heritage. I'm proud of my African American. I'm proud of my heritage. And I like that for an hour a day, five days a week, I get to be brown.”

Discussion Highlights:

• Diagnosis and Initial Reaction: In his mid-20s, while thriving in his career, Lee noticed unusual spots on his skin, leading to a vitiligo diagnosis. Initially, he grappled with fear and uncertainty, worrying about the progression of the condition and its impact on his public image.

• Coping Mechanisms: Lee managed his condition by wearing makeup to conceal the depigmented areas, which allowed him to maintain his professional appearance. However, this created a dichotomy between his on-air persona and his true self.

• Social Interactions: Lee recounts painful experiences, such as when a young child reacted fearfully to his appearance without makeup, highlighting societal ignorance and the emotional toll of visible skin differences.

• Path to Acceptance: Through reconnecting with his body’s capabilities and engaging in activities like basketball, Lee began to appreciate his body beyond its appearance. This shift in perspective helped him embrace his identity and reduce the stigma associated with his condition.

• Advocacy and Awareness: Lee authored a memoir about his experience, contributing to greater awareness and understanding of vitiligo. His openness has helped normalize the condition and foster conversations about diversity and acceptance in society.

Insights: Lee Thomas’s narrative emphasizes the profound psychological and social challenges faced by individuals with skin conditions. His journey from fear and concealment to acceptance and advocacy illustrates the importance of self-love and societal education in overcoming stigmas associated with visible differences.

4. The Intersection of Skin, Technology, and Identity

Timestamp: 42:05 - 50:57

Key Points: The episode further explores the intricate relationship between skin, technology, and personal identity. Through discussions and additional expert insights, it delves into how advancements in technology can both augment and challenge our perceptions of skin and self.

Notable Quotes:

• Katherine Kuchenbecker (40:37): “I am proud to be an African American. I'm proud of my heritage. I'm proud of my African American heritage.”
• Ana Maria Coclita (26:59): “It could be a temporary tattoo or a patch that can be applied on the body.”

Discussion Highlights:

• Normalization of Diversity: The episode underscores efforts to normalize diverse skin conditions and appearances, promoting a more inclusive society that celebrates differences rather than stigmatizing them.

• Future of Haptic and Skin Technologies: Building on previous discussions, the episode highlights the potential of haptic technologies and artificial skin to revolutionize how we interact with technology and perceive our own bodies. These advancements hold promise for enhancing human experiences and bridging gaps between digital and physical interactions.

• Cultural Impact: The integration of technology with human sensory experiences raises important questions about identity, privacy, and the essence of human connection. As we develop more sophisticated interfaces that mimic or alter touch and sensation, it becomes crucial to consider the ethical and societal implications of these technologies.

Insights: The episode paints a comprehensive picture of how skin and touch are central to human identity and interaction. It illustrates the transformative potential of technology in enhancing our sensory experiences while also highlighting the need for thoughtful integration that respects and preserves our sense of self and community.

Conclusion

"The Skin We're In" masterfully intertwines personal narratives with scientific advancements to explore the multifaceted role of skin in our lives. From the pioneering work in haptic technology and artificial skin to the poignant stories of individuals navigating visible differences, the episode invites listeners to reflect on the profound connections between our physical selves, our interactions with technology, and our acceptance within society. By shedding light on these interconnected themes, TED Radio Hour emphasizes the enduring importance of touch and skin in shaping our humanity.

Additional Resources

To delve deeper into the topics discussed in this episode, visit TED.com for full talks by Katherine Kuchenbecker, Ana Maria Coclita, Lee Thomas, and Katherine Schulz.