Yearning for touch seems old-fashioned. After all, wasn’t it virtual sex that spearheaded the triumph of the internet? Nowadays, we communicate within communities that are essentially bubbles of social speculation. We have thousands of virtual contacts but a dearth of fresh and blood friends. Elsewhere, remote control enables us to zap away aspects of life that bother or touch us too closely, whilst the now ubiquitous Blackberry is replacing, or displacing, face-to-face encounters.

Nevertheless, a counter trend exists which is being succoured by the credit crunch. Sensing that our voracity for something as abstract as higher financial returns won’t ultimately satisfy us, we’re beginning to yearn for closeness, intimacy, friendship and immediacy. How then, we ask ourselves, is it possible to touch people? And how do they want to be touched? Which trends will the current crisis give rise to? How will people eat and drink? How will they furnish their homes – in order to simply reside in them or to live in them? What meaning and significance does sexuality have? And why does advertising tend to annoy us more than it touches us?

The rheingold Congress is aimed at those of you that are prepared to embark on new paths, think outside the box and step off the beaten track in order to get bit closer to the enigma of consumers. But also at those of you, who after a touching day of conferencing would enjoy soaking up panoramic views of Cologne Cathedral and celebrating with us into the night.