The Future of SexTech
For better or worst, technology is constantly changing and adapting to new circumstances. But have you ever stopped to wonder how tech can be connected to sex? And more so, how will this intersection look like in the future?
According to Elizabeth Bernstein with The Wallstreet Journal, “Sextech includes sex toys, wearable devices, virtual reality and robots.” It can also be defined as “technology intended to augment the human sexual experience.”
Here are some possibilities as to what the future of this industry could look like:
Sex Toys:
Improved by Artificial Intelligence (AI), toys are becoming increasingly personalized as they learn by gathering your unique data through sensors. There are already toys that enhance the experience of intimacy; devices you can kiss and your long-distance partner(s) can receive that kiss, and even remote-controlled toys!
Virtual Reality (VR):
It’s expected that, in the future, you’ll be able to have sexual experiences in virtual reality by customizing the “partner(s)” with whom you have these experiences. This might also be a great way to try new things and get fantasies fulfilled by pairing VR with other complimentary devices. VR also poses interesting ethical questions since it might require us to reimagine what we think of as cheating and what the limits of our freedom in the VR world might be.
Robots:
“Robots will be able to hold your hand or provide other comforting behaviors.” Not only that, people around the world are working to make them more ‘human.’ “They’ll have built-in heaters that make them warm to the touch. When they touch you it will feel more like a human being. They’ll have a personality, and you will be able to customize them for your needs. They’ll respond to you and interact with you like they were a real person.”
Many of these things are happening already, with companies like Dame Products and Lioness Health already taking the sex tech world to the next level.
What do YOU picture for the future of sex tech? Have you experienced any of these types of sex?
This subject definitely gave us a lot to think about since a lot of this technology can start to change not only the act of sex, but our sexuality as a whole—how we communicate with others and even the boundaries we’ve established to our relationships. Here are some questions for you to reflect upon, we invite you to grab pen and paper and explore the ways you feel about them:
If you were able to have sex with a humanoid robot, would you do it?
If you had the possibility of having a sexual encounter with someone using virtual reality (VR), would you do it? Why or why not?
How can sex in virtual reality (VR) or with humanoid robots change your boundaries when it comes to what you consider cheating?
Can technology fulfill our needs for intimacy?
