Sex technology, also called sex-tech or sextech, is technology and technology-driven ventures that are designed to enhance, innovate, or otherwise change
human sexuality
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...
and/or the human
sexual experience
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...
.
Use of the term was propagated online by
Cindy Gallop
Lucinda Lee Gallop (born 1 February 1960) is an English advertising consultant, founder and former chair of the US branch of advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn companies. According to t ...
from
MLNP and is associated with an advancement of the
Digital Revolution from 2010 and its impact on society and culture. It is often used in conjunction or interchangeably with the term '
teledildonics
Teledildonics (also known as cyberdildonics) is the name coined for virtual sex encounters using networked, electronic sex toys to mimic and extend human sexual interaction. The term became known after technology critic and writer Howard Rheingold ...
' referring to the remote connection between Bluetooth enabled sex toys that use haptic feedback to reciprocate or mimic human, sexual interaction.
However, teledildonics is far more representative of Bluetooth-enabled sex toys and captures the technological capacities of its time whereas sex-technology is rooted in more modern discourse. As such, the word sex-tech is an umbrella term used to describe multiple technologies spanning from VR porn, health and sexual wellness platform or app-based technology, Bluetooth enabled sex toys, pornography video scripting, remote sex interfaces and sex robots.
While still nascent, sextech has seen a recent boom in mainstream acceptance due to a big push from female-led firms in the space.
Notable individuals include
Cindy Gallop
Lucinda Lee Gallop (born 1 February 1960) is an English advertising consultant, founder and former chair of the US branch of advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn companies. According to t ...
(Founder and CEO of
MLNP), Polly Rodriguez (Co-founder and CEO of Unbound), Alex Fine and Janet Lieberman (Co-founders of Dame Products), Andrea Barrica (Founder and CEO of O.School), Liz Klinger from (Co-founder and CEO of Lioness), Kate Moyle (Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist at Pillow Play), Stephanie Alys (Co-founder and CPO at
MysteryVibe), Dr.
Kate Devlin
Kate Devlin, born Adela Katharine Devlin is a Northern Irish computer scientist specialising in Artificial intelligence and Human–computer interaction (HCI). She is best known for her work on human sexuality and robotics and was co-chair of t ...
from Goldsmiths University, Maxine Lynn (sextech attorney, and CEO of Stript Erotic Designs), and journalists including Alix Fox,
Nichi Hodgson
Nichi Hodgson (born 9 September 1983) is a British journalist, broadcaster, and author. She was one of the first British journalists to court-report via Twitter, covering the 2012 obscenity trial, ''R v Peacock''.
Early life and education
Ho ...
, Rebecca Newman, Gigi Engle, Bryony Cole, Suzannah Weiss, Joseph Seon Kim, Hallie Lieberman, and GirlOnTheNet.
Sextech entrepreneur
Andrea Barrica estimated the market at $30 billion in 2018, with $800 million coming from Amazon sales.
Sextech has a long history, and social norms towards it are changing, contributing to the explosive growth.
Impact
# Pornography
# Pleasure
# New kinds of sex
# New Ways To Meet Partners
# New Kinds Of Partners
# New Ways To Coordinate Hook Ups
Advantages
# Possibility of sexual enlightenment
# Stronger relationships
# Female-friendly
# Cure for loneliness
# Better sex
Criticism
# Risk of addiction
# Cyber-risk
# Unnecessary or unlawful collection and use of sensitive personal data
# Potential for harm and inequality caused by sex robots
See also
*
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech re ...
*
Augmented reality
Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content. The content can span multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory. AR can be de ...
*
Cybersex
Cybersex, also called computer sex, Internet sex, netsex and, colloquially, cyber or cybering, is a virtual sex encounter in which two or more people have long distance sex via electronic video communication (webcams, VR headsets, etc) and other e ...
*
Haptic technology
Haptic technology (also kinaesthetic communication or 3D touch) is technology that can create an experience of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user. These technologies can be used to create virtual objects in a computer ...
*
Teledildonics
Teledildonics (also known as cyberdildonics) is the name coined for virtual sex encounters using networked, electronic sex toys to mimic and extend human sexual interaction. The term became known after technology critic and writer Howard Rheingold ...
*
Virtual reality sex
Virtual reality sex (VR sex) is a technology that allows the user to receive tactile sensations from remote participants, or fictional characters through the use of computer-controlled sex toys. Usually the user also wears a virtual reality headset ...
References
Further reading
This publication aims to highlight what the field of neuroscience can tell us about the implications of using interactive technologies on young people’s brains, behaviours and attitudes. Closer Together, Further Apart offers both current and unique insight into the cultural shifts brought about by digital technology and the InternetFuture of Sex - The world's leading publication on the intersection of technology and sexuality.
External links
Future of SexTechnophilia - "Sex hasn’t changed much, but our various points of access to it have changed dramatically along with new technologies"The future of sexHow SexTech impacts our livesTechnology for better sexHow SexTech could threaten the world's oldest professionHow technology makes sex life betterSex in the digital ageHow the internet has changed sex{{Sex
Sexuality and computing
Sex industry
Internet culture