Many people think that the consumption of pornography and the use of sex toys are the dregs of humanity and the most vulgar of pleasures. It’s dirty, its filthy, it should be behind closed doors, and it should never be spoken about. I hate to break it to you, but, the world owes pornography, and indeed the adult Industry, a lot. When it comes to advancements of technology, you’ll often find that the porn and adult industry are at the forefront of technology. E-Commerce websites, Online Streaming (1994), webcams (1995), a demand for Increased Bandwidth and internet speed and even the VCR are just a few examples of what the world owes the pornography industry. With an increase in accessibility combined with the breaking down of social taboos and the normalisation of sex and pleasure it’s little wonder that Pornhub chews through 147 gigabytes a second every single day. But why is the sex industry of the forefront of technology when we still struggle to embrace sex without having to hide it, and what are the benefits of sex tech?
SexTechis an increasingly common word being used to describe the rise of technology within sex toys. At it’s core SexTech refers to the idea and philosophy that tech is being used to enhance and innovate areas of human sexuality, and the sexual experience. Think contraception apps, we-vibe connectivity apps, Elvie Vaginal ‘fit bits’, sex robots, vibrators and even Artificial Intelligence designed to simulate/replace/replicate intimacy. But it does go further, those are some of the more obvious and more visible things when it comes to technology and sex. Some of the things that we don’t consider are media reports on sexual assault, the #metoo movement, the Gender Equality Movement, – all of which are being bolstered by technologies from reporting tools and anonymous style apps, to the prolific use of social media, to their visibility on media platforms every single day of the week. In this regard, SexTech is a term that is starting to see more use with each passing day and becoming increasingly important as we acknowledge and interact with it. At the end of the day we simply cannot escape the idea that sex and sexuality (and/or the lack thereof) is at the heart of everything that we do as people. It’s defaulted into us from a young age and for the majority of individuals it becomes an inseparable and unique part of our personality and our identity. It has the power to structure our relationships, lives, personal identity, and even our own happiness.
So why the big deal about tech? Interconnectedness and cosmopolitanism are becoming increasingly prevalent – the power of the smartphone in your pocket today exceeds the computing power that put humanity on the moon. Technology is becoming increasingly inseparable to our day to day lives, we use it to make our lives easier, so why wouldn’t we be using it for sex and pleasure? Technology is becoming a significant part of sex and the sex industry, and as we continue to break down the barriers and hidden nature of sex, it’s only going to become more viable, more prevalent and increasingly interconnected. Sex tech and the breaking down of the taboo nature of sex and pleasure work in conjunction with each other. The more we talk about sex, the more technology will jump on the bandwagon. The more technology jumps on the bandwagon, the more we will talk about sex. This cycle will eventually see the continued and increased normalisation of ideologies surrounding sex and pleasure, the likes of which have never been seen before.
Indeed, the newest realms of sextechs is seeing the prominence of groups previously seen as invisible – with events, technology, gear and toys now being created for people with disabilities, the ageing population, trans people and everyone(1) in between. Previously, such toys and gear were made for the general population because of the business viability. It made sense in terms of business profitability to market toys to a broad spectrum of people in order to increase your market share. Sex was not open, pleasure was not discussed. Now, within an increasingly e-commerce market, the ability to ship products across the globe, the increasing percentage of people with internet access (55% in 2018), and our willingness to embrace pleasure and gear, it now makes sense to create products for the purpose of equitable access to pleasure vs profit margins and market shares.
Such groups, previously ignore or dismissed, are now seeing an increased access to technology allowing them to offer their own insights and to help with the development of products and services that best suit their needs and desires. It’s not all happiness and roses though. Recently there was great concern at the actions of the Consumer Electronics Show which initially awarded a group of women an honouree title in the Robotics and Drone category for their Ose ‘Personal Massager’. Its use of micro-robotics to aid in providing blended orgasms was seen as innovative and inclusive. That is, until the Consumer Technology Association (CTA which owns, and produces the CES event) stepped in to strip them of their award on the basis that the entry was deemed to be disqualified because it did not meet their rules Standards. CTA referred to a rule which stipulated that entries seen to be ‘immoral, obscene, indecent, profane, or not keeping with” the organisations image will be disqualified. I’m not going to go too into depth on the issues here, largely that this statement implies that women’s sexual wellness products are deemed to be indecent, but it does show that the tech industry still has some work to do when it comes to mixing technology with sex. There’s hope though.
Body Hacks
Japanese Robotics companies are spearheading the use of sex robots and Pleasure AI to advance technologies in robotics research, computer sciences and Artificial Intelligence mechanics and systems. Phones are increasingly becoming connected to our sex toys and the idea of pleasure. The more we embrace SexTech, the more powerful and cost effective it will become.
Stephen is a cis-gendered gay male who spends far too much time with his two cats and eating tim tams. A self-identified sex-positive advocate he cares deeply about gender equality, disabilities, sexual education and social issues. Opinionated and bold he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and say what others won’t. With a yearning for knowledge and experience in all things relating to sex, he is a prolific writer that has developed the content for a myriad of informative Sexual Health and Wellness websites.
Stephen’s articles and writings tends to focus on social issues, sexual education, queer issues and all things fetish and absurd. He comes qualified with the completion of a double Bachelor degree in Social Sciences and literature, and a Masters in Education.
I have been thinking a bit lately about what sex will be like for us all in the future.  I watched an episode of a show called ‘Black Mirror’, set in a society in the future, where people have implants in their heads which essentially record their lives. They can replay events in their heads and save them. This causes all sorts of problems for the main protagonist as he is consumed with paranoia about whether his partner is watching her ex while she is having sex with him?…. Was she flirting with him at a party. You can imagine the issues it raises. Well sit up straight because today I find out Google have this new app called “glance” glasses where you can watch what your partner is seeing!
I think we would all agree the world Future Sex is going in that direction anyway. We already spend a good deal of our lives connected to machines and live some of our lives on the internet. Technology is improving though and we are just at the beginning of it. People are now able to find a partner and fall in love, and have full on relationship with someone they have never actually met. If you don’t want to deal with real people full stop when it comes to sex, then millions of people are members of a virtual world called Red Light Center, a bit like “Second Life”, but about sex and virtual prostitution. where you can buy sex or persuade other users to have sex with you. More and more we are directing our relationships and sex lives from our phones and devices.
When it comes to watching porn, we will soon be experiencing it in a more immersive way. With the invention of 360 degree cameras and viewing glasses and virtual reality sex, it is already happening and I am sure it won’t be long before we will have have  realistic holograms in our lounge rooms getting it on.  Only a few years ago I would have thought it inconceivable that I could use a sex toy like the We Vibe that my partner controlled from the other side of the planet. Just last week one of my work friends sent around a picture of a 3d clitoris. Now no doubt this will have amazing repercussions for the sex toy industry. Soon we will be able to have sex toys made that are specifically designed exactly for our own bodies. It gets more exciting though. There is now Hepatic technology, this is a ‘touch’ feed back system, where a person wears sensors and feels the touch sent by another person. They are already developing “Fundawear” and a “Hug shirt”. I believe that eventually we will be able to send our touch to other people with just thoughts, think about those prosthetic limbs that are controlled by the brain sending signals to nerves. Imagine how great this would be for disabled people.
Image: Cleaning & Sex Robot
Future Sex will be much less about having babies and almost exclusively about fun. The way we reproduce is already changing. We are moving out of the bedroom when it comes to having babies and into hospitals and laboratories,  More and more our sex lives will move away from real intimacy and emotion.  This will be good in someways and bad in others. Sex will be mostly about provoking pleasure and orgasm in the most efficient reliable way we can. All fetishes and sexual needs will be catered for. Sex will be safer, and never need harm another human being. It will be much more exploratory Gender and sexual  identity wont matter as much anymore, and that can’t come quick enough.
Just as I think we are replacing friendships with Facebook ,we may well replace Facebook with robots. If you are wondering how soon it will be until you have a robot partner, well I think I may begin to see it happen in my life time.  If you have seen the movie “Her”. Then I don’t think that is too far away. (In the film a guy falls in love and has amazing sex with his virtual assistant). If you think this is just way out there. We already have virtual assistants , Apple has “Siri”. Add to that some ‘artificial intelligence’. If you watched the news a few months ago, a robot has now begun beating the world champion in the most complex board game on the planet, it is learning from itself! Add to that how realistic some of the latest life size sex dolls are… and add to that, your 3d print inspired, custom designed sex toy technology….and..you have yourself a partner.
Future Sex does all this sound wonderful, I think some of it does. I do worry though , that the more we seek to get better and faster fixes, and the less we need real human to human contact, the more disconnected and fed up we will all feel. I think we will see rises in sex addiction and other addictions. The more time we spend away from each other the less we know how to be with each other. Thankfully I truly don’t believe we will ever really be able to replace real human to human, soul to soul, sex though. and if we ever do, many centuries from now, I predict we will all probably be rising up in revolutions for a return to it.
 About the Author: Emily is a consultant from Oh Zone Adult Lifestyle Centres
Rick is the owner of the Adultsmart, an online sex toy shop that stocks a huge range of adult orientated prouducts. He has been involved in the adult lifestyle industry for more than 25 years. Rick is an active sex blogger who provides a wealth of information and experience. He is an advocate of equality for gender and sexuality.
“We tend to think about issues such as virtual reality and robotic sex within the context of current norms. But if we think back to the social norms about sex that existed just 100 years ago, it is obvious that they have changed rapidly and radically. As virtual reality becomes more realistic and immersive and is able to mimic and even improve on the experience of sex with a human partner; it is conceivable that some will choose this in preference to sex with a less than perfect human being. People may also begin to fall in love with their virtual reality partners. Love and sex with robots are inevitable.” said Dr Helen Driscoll
FUTURE SEX!
In the future will we be having sex with robots. Think about it for a minute, this could be the answer to so many of societies many day problems. No more issues about slave sex victims, no more moral judgements on sex workers, safe sex practices guaranteed and no STD’s being transmitted. And best of all for either sex using them, they never say no!! Sex toys like this have existed for a while in countries such as Japan, where the idea of simulated sex toys is actually quite popular. Japanese culture is intriguing because of the social pressure that they are under and the expected productivity levels of workers. As such, it is difficult for many people to maintain relationships and they have simply turned to artificial sex and comfort. Indeed, there are many kinds of sexual related places in Japan, and also non sexually related in the form of a ‘Cuddle Bar’ where you pay for ‘intimacy’ and simply a cuddle. It’s surprisingly therapeutic and beneficial for the mental health of everyone involved.
ROBOTIC SEX
could be a solution to the ever increasing problem of human trafficking and if the problem is gone then the resources into trying to prevent them are no longer required. It will save enforcement agencies millions if not billions of dollars. Resources and medicines to help prevent and to treat sexually transmitted diseases will decrease allowing increased spending into research and development for cures of other diseases. So long as more people are having sex with the robots. The downside to that will be that the population birth rate will decrease.
LOVE WITH YOUR SEXBOT
For the kinky out there it will allow them to play out their fantasies harmlessly where no actual human is hurt or abused. Multiple partners could be had and not come with the emotional and relationship turmoils as there will be no jealousy or accusations of cheating by your robotic partner of choice. You will be able to fully customise the skin tone, the hair type by interchanging wigs, do their own makeup, choose the type of clothes that the sex doll will wear, you can fantasies about going on dates with them, change the colour of their eyes, get mechanical updates and upgrades. Some men will simply fall in love with their sexbot. Thereby fulfilling all sorts of personally sexual fantasies you might not be able to get in real life! Some say that sex robots are inevitable and sex dolls are no created so lifelike both in looks and feeling it is difficult if not seeing it in persona which is the real deal. Some of these dolls command a $10,000 price tag but are man-made and sculptured to your design and requirements. Previous constraints and restraints are all gone.
What is the future in sex robots? Who knows but it is an interesting thought. Will people become less involved in socialising with other individuals and will real relationships crumble? Will sex robots develop real type’s of emotion with real personality? Will sex robots have a soul or have a mechanical heart that reflects a real heart? Will people fall in love with their sex robots and develop real relationships with them. There are a million questions to ask, but if you take all that out of the equation, sex robot’s will help millions of people fulfill their sexual needs at the click of a button. People will be happier and their self-esteem will improve.
When you think of it we already have sex toy robots. Think about the massive range of vibrators available and prostate massagers. You can even buy sex toy chairs and machine’s in store, sex robots are just the next step up.
Rick is the owner of the Adultsmart, an online sex toy shop that stocks a huge range of adult orientated prouducts. He has been involved in the adult lifestyle industry for more than 25 years. Rick is an active sex blogger who provides a wealth of information and experience. He is an advocate of equality for gender and sexuality.
