When Cindy Gallop launched MakeLoveNotPorn more than a decade ago, her goal was simple but radical: to separate real-world sex from porn and encourage healthier conversations about intimacy, relationships and consent. Now, she is taking that mission even further with the launch of MakeLoveNotPorn Academy, a global aggregator platform for sex education resources designed for lifelong learning.

MakeLoveNotPorn Academy aims to become a global hub for sex education

The Academy is now live in early-stage beta and aims to become what Gallop describes as “the Google of sex education” — a searchable hub that organizes educational content for parents, teachers, young people and adults.

Why Sex Education Needs Its Own Platform

According to Gallop, one of the biggest problems in sex education today is not the lack of information — it is discoverability.

Search engines often censor or filter sexual health and education content, making it difficult for parents and educators to find reliable, fact-based resources. The result is that many young people end up learning about sex primarily through pornography rather than education.

MakeLoveNotPorn Academy aims to solve this by acting as a human-curated aggregator, where every educator and resource is vetted to ensure that content is:

• Educational
• Fact-based
• Non-judgmental
• Age-appropriate
• Culturally sensitive

The platform allows users to search resources by age group, comfort level and cultural context, creating a structured approach to lifelong sex education.

From MakeLoveNotPorn To MakeLoveNotPorn Academy

This new platform builds on Gallop’s long-running work in the sex tech space. In a previous Tech Trends article, we explored the broader challenges and opportunities in the industry and why investment in sex tech is still often overlooked despite its massive social impact.

That article argued that sex tech is not just about products — it is about education, safety, relationships, consent, and culture. The launch of MakeLoveNotPorn Academy reinforces that argument by positioning sex education as infrastructure, not content.

A Human-Curated Model In An Algorithmic World

One of the most interesting aspects of the Academy is that it deliberately does not rely purely on algorithms.

Instead, the platform uses a 100% human-curation model, where educators and content are reviewed and approved manually. In a digital world dominated by algorithmic recommendation systems, this approach is intentionally different — prioritizing safety, context and educational value over engagement metrics.

The Academy is free to access, and operates on a membership and donation model to support operations and future development.

Sex Education As A Technology Platform

The launch of MakeLoveNotPorn Academy highlights a broader trend within the sex tech industry: the shift from devices and apps toward platforms, education, and digital ecosystems.

Sex tech is increasingly intersecting with:

• EdTech
• Online learning platforms
• Community platforms
• Creator economies
• Digital health
• AI and personalization
• Content aggregation platforms

In that sense, MakeLoveNotPorn Academy is not just a sex education site — it is a knowledge platform, and potentially the first global aggregator dedicated entirely to sex education.

The Future Of Lifelong Sex Education

Sex education has traditionally been treated as something that happens once, in school, often awkwardly and incompletely. MakeLoveNotPorn Academy takes a very different view: sex education should be lifelong.

From early childhood conversations about bodies and boundaries, through teenage years, relationships, consent, communication, pleasure, aging, and long-term relationships — education around intimacy and relationships evolves throughout life.

If Gallop’s vision succeeds, MakeLoveNotPorn Academy could become a central hub for that lifelong learning journey.

And in doing so, it may help reshape not only sex education, but how we think about relationships, communication and intimacy in the digital age.

The post Building the Google of Sex Education appeared first on Tech Trends.

Watching television has traditionally been a social activity, whether sitting with family, texting friends during a show, or discussing plot twists online. But a new trend is emerging: people are increasingly watching TV with AI companions instead of other people.

As streaming libraries grow and social schedules become more fragmented, AI companion apps are beginning to fill the gap left by solo viewing. These apps can react to shows in real time, discuss characters, and even debate plot theories with viewers, creating a shared viewing experience without another person in the room.

According to AI innovation experts, this shift reflects broader changes in how people consume entertainment and interact with technology.

Why watching TV feels better with company

There is a psychological reason why watching TV with someone else often feels more enjoyable. Shared media consumption increases emotional engagement, and reacting together to plot twists, jokes, or dramatic moments makes the experience feel more immersive.

AI companions attempt to replicate this social dynamic by responding to what users are watching and participating in conversation about characters, storylines, and theories. This turns passive viewing into a more interactive experience.

Rather than simply watching a show alone, viewers can discuss what’s happening in real time with an AI companion that is always available and always engaged.

The rise of AI companionship

AI companion apps have grown rapidly in recent years, moving from niche chatbot tools to full digital companion platforms offering conversation, emotional support, and interactive experiences.

Platforms like <a href=”https://flirtcam.ai/”>Flirtcam.AI</a> allow users to create AI companions that can chat, react, and interact with users across different activities, including entertainment and media consumption.

This reflects a broader trend in technology where AI is becoming less of a tool and more of a companion, assistant, or social presence in everyday life.

Shows that work well with AI co-viewing

According to AI experts, certain types of shows work particularly well for watching with an AI companion. These tend to be shows with strong characters, ongoing storylines, mysteries, or plots that encourage discussion and debate.

Examples often mentioned include:

• Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Sherlock
• How I Met Your Mother
• Stranger Things
• The Office (US)

These shows generate conversation, theories, and emotional reactions, which makes them well suited to interactive viewing experiences.

Convenience versus real connection

One of the biggest reasons people use AI companions is convenience. An AI companion is always available, never argues about what to watch, and can immediately discuss a plot twist or ending.

However, experts warn that while AI can simulate social interaction, it is not the same as human interaction. The challenge for technology companies will be ensuring that AI companions complement real social experiences rather than replace them.

Streaming platforms are already experimenting with watch parties, shared viewing features, and interactive content, and AI companions may become part of that ecosystem in the future.

The future of entertainment may be interactive

The rise of AI companions suggests that the future of entertainment may be more interactive and social, even when people are physically watching alone.

Instead of passively watching content, viewers may increasingly:

• Discuss shows with AI companions
• Receive commentary or analysis from AI
• Get recommendations based on emotional reactions
• Participate in interactive storylines
• Watch content designed specifically for AI-assisted viewing

As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life, entertainment may shift from something we simply watch to something we experience interactively.

The post Watching TV With AI appeared first on Tech Trends.

From response times to emoji use, your texting behavior may be quietly defining your dating success.

The Rise of Text-Based Dating Signals

Texting has become the front line of modern dating. Before a first date—or even a phone call—your messaging style sets the tone.

A new quiz developed by Flirtcam.AI explores how small habits—like how quickly you reply or how you end a conversation—can influence how others perceive you.

As dating increasingly shifts into digital-first interactions, these micro-behaviors matter more than ever.

The Five-Question Texting Quiz

The quiz (provided in the PR materials ) focuses on five core behaviors:

• Response time

• Handling flirty messages

• Ending conversations

• Emoji usage

• Managing fading conversations

Each answer falls into three categories:

• A: Confident, engaged communicator

• B: Balanced, thoughtful responder

• C: Avoidant or inconsistent texter

What Your Results Say About You

Texting Pro (Mostly A’s)

You’re responsive, engaging, and emotionally attuned.

• Conversations feel natural and enjoyable

• You signal interest clearly

• Others rarely feel uncertain about where they stand

This style tends to create stronger early connections and momentum.

Casual Conversationalist (Mostly B’s)

You strike a balance between engagement and independence.

• Thoughtful but not overly reactive

• Reliable without being intense

• Consistent, but not always exciting

This style builds trust over time, even if it lacks immediate spark.

Ghoster Alert (Mostly C’s)

You may unintentionally create confusion or disengagement.

• Delayed or missing responses

• Conversations fade without closure

• Avoidance of difficult or awkward exchanges

While often unintentional, this pattern is one of the biggest frustrations in modern dating.

Why Texting Habits Matter More Than You Think

According to Flirtcam.AI’s dating expert Sam Mann:

“The way you communicate over text shapes how people perceive you long before you meet in person.”

In other words, texting isn’t just communication—it’s impression management.

Small signals like:

• Timing

• Tone

• Consistency

…can determine whether a connection builds—or disappears.

Where AI Companions Enter the Picture

One of the more interesting angles in this release is the role of AI companions in improving communication skills.

AI-powered platforms like Flirtcam.AI allow users to:

• Practice conversations in a low-pressure environment

• Experiment with tone, humor, and timing

• Build confidence without fear of rejection

• Learn how to exit conversations gracefully

This positions AI not just as entertainment—but as a behavioral training tool.

AI as “Dating Rehearsal”

The concept is simple but powerful:

• No judgment

• No stakes

• Unlimited practice

For users who struggle with:

• Overthinking replies

• Avoiding conversations

• Misreading tone

AI companions can act as a safe rehearsal space.

Over time, this can translate into more confident and effective real-world communication.

The Bigger Trend: Emotional Skill-Building via AI

This quiz reflects a broader shift in how AI is being used:

• Not just for productivity

• But for social and emotional development

We’re seeing AI tools increasingly help users:

• Improve communication

• Build confidence

• Navigate complex social dynamics

Dating is simply one of the most relatable use cases.

Conclusion: Your Texting Style Is a Signal—Not a Fixed Trait

The key takeaway isn’t labeling yourself—it’s recognizing patterns.

Your texting habits:

• Can be improved

• Can be practiced

• Can evolve

And increasingly, AI may play a role in helping people become better communicators in a digital-first world.

The post Improving Texting in Dating appeared first on Tech Trends.

In the past decade, technology has impacted (for better or for worse) our daily lives. More specifically, it has radically changed the relationship game and quite possibly made us rethink the way we view commitment.

We think we know technology back to front and the effects it causes on us, but… is that the case? Is the internet destroying our possibility of finding our soulmate or is it helping us find true love?

Here are 3 positive and negative ways in which technology has impacted our love life:

Long Distance Relationships Made Easier

Keeping in touch with our friends, family and our partner is nowadays easier than it’s ever been. The technology boom enables us to be connected at all times, thus being away and far from your soulmate is not as bad as it used to be twenty years ago. This has been a giant leap for humankind as thanks to our phones and tablets, long-distance relationships can be as intimate and as passionate as traditional relationships. Not only has it changed the communication game making it simpler and faster, it has also changed the way people meet, making it incredibly easy to just match and converse with someone at the other end of the world.

The technology boom enables us to be connected at all times, thus being away and far from your soulmate is not as bad as it used to be twenty years ago
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Affairs

The Internet has for sure helped us advance and progress in our relationships with others. However, it has also ruined them in a particular and unacceptable way. The thing is that people have been cheating since the beginning of times and that is no secret. And if it was easy for people to do so before, in many ways, technology is currently making it easier for us to pull off an affair and cheat on our partner.

Spouses participate in erotic video chats and exchange compromised photos and text messages with their lovers without their partners ever finding out
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Spouses participate in erotic video chats and exchange compromised photos and text messages with their lovers without their partners ever finding out. Our partner could also be on a business trip to the other end of the world and meeting the most attractive escorts in Sydney, Australia (or any other country far enough away) and we would never find out. Sure, it is probably easier to get caught since the whole conversation history can be found in our phone, but at the same time and thanks to some apps, hiding an affair is effortless and easy.

Commitment Phobia

Dating apps can be extremely useful and help us get back into the dating world after a tough breakup. But at the same time, the more options you have to find your soulmate the less satisfied you are with your choice. A study carried out by the University of Wisconsin showed how daters were more content with their match when they had a smaller pool of people to choose from.

Long gone are the days where people would have to go out to a bar or club in order to have a one night stand. You can now find a one time fling through a dating app, and it’s probably simpler than in real life
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Those with a wider range of options were more likely to change their mind after picking a person and would search for another partner instead. Technology also makes the possibility of having a casual relationship easier. Long gone are the days where people would have to go out to a bar or club in order to have a one night stand. You can now find a one time fling through a dating app, and it’s probably simpler than in real life as there are sites and apps dedicated exclusively to no-strings-attached relationships.

The post 3 Ways Technology has Impacted Your Love Life appeared first on Tech Trends.

People have been prosecuted and punished for their sexual preferences for many years in the past, but nowadays, sex becoming less of a taboo, at least in modern Western society. As always, there’s a lot of money to be made in adult entertainment, and the industry has been responsible for pushing forward many technological innovations over the years. That is still the case, and we’ve covered quite a few of those stories here on Tech Trends, from VR Porn to live camming avatars and Sex Robots, to an app that lets you pay with your penis. Which begs the question: What are some of the latest sexy tech trends? Let’s dive down the rabbit hole, shall we?

Sex robots can hold a conversation, moan during sex, and even reject you if it turns you on
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Sex dolls

Forget about those creepy inflatable dolls you could see in the sex shops ten years ago. Right now, you can order a realistic sex doll with removable parts. More than that, you can create one according to your preferences – manufacturers give freedom of choice when it comes to the materials, sizes of genitals, the color of hair, and facial expression.

You can get a customized sex doll with removable parts if you so wish
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Sex robots are also on sale – they can hold a conversation, moan during sexual intercourse, and even reject you if it turns you on. No wonder, there are so many stories in the media covering loving relationships between men and their dolls. Female bloggers have also started sharing the details of their experience with silicone men.

More and more people want to try how it feels with a doll that looks just like a human. At this point, technosexuals can spend a night with a sex doll of their dreams in… brothels. You can find ‘silicone bordello’ in Canada, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, France, Finland, Austria, and the United States.

Female bloggers have also started sharing the details of their experience with silicone men
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#Instasexy

Being invisible is one of the worse nightmares of this century; fame is associated with wealth, success, and happiness. Whether you want to be a successful musician, hairstylist, or broker, you need to get out there and announce to the Internet world that you exist. The best way to do so is to create your Instagram business profile. However, there are a lot of people who want to be famous without offering any products; they want to be followed for their image only.

Posting your own nude pictures is the fastest way to draw the attention of Instagram users. Also, in modern times, showing off your body parts or acting sexy is considered beautiful. You can blame Hollywood stars and Victoria secret models for creating this new concept of beauty.

There is no need to beg your girlfriend to send you nude pictures or go to the pornographic websites. Instagram, one of the most popular social media in the world, is full of softcore pornography. You will see there not only professional models; there are also pictures of your fitness trainer, high school teacher, bank workers, and your best friends. For better of worse, it’s the kind of stuff you probably won’t be able to unsee.

technosexuals can spend a night with a sex doll of their dreams in… brothels. You can find ‘silicone bordello’ in Canada, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, France, Finland, Austria, and the United States
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Gender-neutral sex toys

According to estimates, the adult toy market will reach 35 billion dollars USD by 2023. Vibrators are now more accessible than ever. Thirty years ago, it was unusual to have one, but times have changed – nowadays, around 64 % of women (aged 17- 32) in the United States use vibrators on a regular basis. Sex toy companies don’t want to limit themselves to female customers only, so every year, marketers invent new toys to satisfy men as well, such as prostate toys, penis rings, and pumps.

The sex toy industry requires a lot of creativity. The gender-neutral sex toy is one of the outcomes of productive days in the American sex toy company. The main idea of the toy is that ‘pleasure knows no gender.’ The invention called ‘Transformer’ can be used by a couple and for solo playing (we certainly review them often enough here on Tech Trends).

Around 64 % of women (aged 17- 32) in the United States use vibrators on a regular basis
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Vibrating condoms

People are constantly looking for new sensations, and the sex toy market tries to satisfy their customers’ needs and improve sexual compatibility.

Marketers have been trying to convince people that condoms can not only be used for protection but also for increasing pleasure during sex. At the moment you can find glow-in-dark, flavored, warming, mint, textured, and vibrating condoms.

Vibrating condoms have a special ring that can change the whole experience
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Vibrating condoms have a special ring that can change the whole experience. The ring goes around the penis; it creates the vibrating effect that can last for 20 minutes. Despite this feature, the condom itself is disposable.

Pornography websites receive more traffic than Twitter, Amazon, and Netflix combined
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Rule 34

Rule 34 is an internet meme that appeared in 2003. It states that ‘if something exists, there is a pornography of it.’ Sixteen years ago, Rule 34 was a joke, but nowadays it is the reality. According to HuffPost, pornography websites receive more traffic than Twitter, Amazon, and Netflix combined.

Rule 34 is an internet meme that appeared in 2003. It states that ‘if something exists, there is a pornography of it
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Pornography has always been popular, but the current scale of porn production is insane. The latest statistics show that Pornhub gets more than 1.000 views per second; a new porn movie is produced every 39 minutes. The industry is looking for new faces all the time, so porn actors’ careers don’t last longer than one year. At the moment, no source can track the number of active porn actors, but one thing is clear – the industry is getting bigger. It is quite possible that one day you will find a porn video of someone you know.

Pornhub gets more than 1.000 views per second
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HIV Sex Roulette

To keep your sex life exciting, you need to be open to trying new things. Some people tried it all – different partners, positions, places, sex toys, orgies, etc. That’s how sex roulette was created. Basically, it is an orgy where one person is HIV positive. Psychologists explain that high adrenaline can help get intense orgasms. The idea of HIV sex roulette had originated in Spain. At the moment, there is no information on the extent of the problem. Hopefully, it won’t become a trend among adventure seekers, but it shows how with any basic human compulsion, the dark side is never far away.

Free the nipple

Free the nipple movement encourages equality and freedom of sexual expression. The global campaign was inspired by the movie with the same name. Women want to have equal rights as men; they don’t understand why girls can’t go topless in public just like men. To get the main point of the movement across, male and female campaigners strip off their tops every year in different countries of the world. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Kimmel, Simon Holtznagel and Kendall Jenner endorsed the protest. Nowadays, men and women around the world post their topless pictures on social media to support the movement.

Free the nipple movement encourages equality and freedom of sexual expression
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Modern people are open to different experiments in bed; they are not afraid to explore own bodies and express their sexuality. No wonder, the sex industry is growing rapidly. At this point, it is difficult to predict the future of sex; there is only one thing that seems clear – everything will be possible, and some things we can’t even imagine will likely soon become reality. Virtual or otherwise.

For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies our VR Consultancy service offers comprehensive support in strategic deployment of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Sex in a Digital Age appeared first on Tech Trends.

People Can Try their Hand in Adult Entertainment without Being Caught by Family, Employers or Friends with the Launch of Camoji

Customizable XXX digital avatars by CamSoda provide additional ways for Cam Models to interact with fans and new way for everyday people to be a CamSoda model anonymously. CamSoda, a leading adult entertainment webcam platform, has announced the launch of “Camoji,” which allows anyone to create a personalized XXX avatar of themselves to perform as a cam model with the added potential to earn money. Camsoda say that ‘Users can customize their Camoji to look like them – or someone else — by selecting between various features, like hairstyles, breast sizes and ass shapes, among others’. It is claimed that Users of this software can interact through their XXX avatar, ‘which can perform sensual and sexual acts, including, twerking and masturbation.’

Customizable XXX Digital Avatars by @CamSodaLive Provide Additional Way for Cam Models to Interact with Fans and New Way for Everyday People to be a Cam Model anonymously
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Camsoda also claim that it is an ‘additional way for adult cam models to interact with their fans and a new way for people to try their hand in adult entertainment anonymously.’ So if you have ever fancied yourself as a camgirl model (whether you are male or female ), this could be your chance to try it out.

“Given the popularity of Animoji, and now Memoji, which allow for people to create an avatar that looks just like them, we wanted to introduce a sexy alternative with a twist,” said Daryn Parker, VP, CamSoda. “With the launch of Camoji, now anyone can get into adult entertainment and anonymously interact with people, all under the guise of a XXX avatar.”

Camsoda claim that models follow prompts to begin creating their personalized digital avatar (similar to building a character in a video game). Once the character has been completed, models list their digital alter ego in CamSoda’s new “Camoji” category where users can interact with them in real-time via chat. Camsoda say that users can command (with $$$ tips) the Camoji to perform an assortment of movements, including dancing, masturbation and twerking, among others. Camojis will also be able to interact and talk dirty to users through its chat function. Similar to other cam shows, Camsoda claim that users can request private shows with Camojis as well.

The interesting context of this is that the avatars can only basically move to what appears to be a group of specific pre-set manoeuvres. There would need to be a variety of movement sequences for the avatar to perform that can be instigated by the model, or there would be a possibility that it could become quite repetitive and in danger of even becoming boring. It also raises the question as to whether the client wishes to interact with another human being (the model), an original aim of interacting with cam girls or to engage with something that is other than human such as this kind of digital fantastical creature.

“Whether you’re a mother of three, who can’t afford to have your kids’ friends’ parents find out or a C-level executive at a well-known company with clients, Camoji now allows you to moonlight as a cam model and anonymously interact with fans, all while earning money.” Parker concluded

The visualisation of this fantasy is fairly standard, in that the female avatars have a selection of different sized breasts and bottoms to choose from, along with all various kinds of fantastical fixtures and fittings that could be added to the avatar – depending on specific tastes and predilections.  The avatar can twerk and can dance within the boundaries of their programming; however, the specific manoeuvres of the avatar are stilted in places, but there is some ‘jiggle factor’ which is effective. But – as to how erotic this is – will have to be in the eye of the beholder.

#Camoji allows you to moonlight as a cam model and anonymously interact with fans, all while earning money
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Camsoda also claim that in the future the avatar should be able to move more independently. In the near future, CamSoda say it ‘will begin using face tracking technology as well as and motion capture, users will be able to map emoji characters to their face and body, producing a more realistic Camoji. Camojis will also be able to mimic movements in real-time’. This would enable far more erotic engagement as the motion capture software will demonstrate more authentic interaction. Camsoda claim that ‘if a user is masturbating, their avatar will mimic their movement’.

@CamSodaLive claim that ‘if a user is masturbating, their #Camoji avatar will mimic their movement
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This would be achieved with live motion capture which would be far more intense because there would be a more spontaneous and authentic experience between avatar and client. This would be due to the possible avatar movements which might be more personal and more intimate because of the sensitivity of motion capture. Gestures could take on different nuances than the current pre-programmed package of set movements. This brings to light questions surrounding the nature of erotic movement and requests for specific types of movement by the client. This reveals the complexity surrounding turn-taking, interaction between avatar and client, and arousal.

When motion capture is added to this it will bring a whole new dimension to the context of webcamming and will bring new ways of considering what it is to be embodied
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When motion capture is added to this it will bring a whole new dimension to the context of webcamming and will bring new ways of considering what it is to be embodied. A lot of women engage in webcam work because they feel secure, are pleasured and in control, and disguising oneself through an avatar could for some, increase that sense of pleasure and security. So the Camoji may well help some people to engage in sex cam work – who otherwise would not feel confident enough to do it.

#Camoji may well help some people to engage in sex cam work – who otherwise would not feel confident enough to do it
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Of course, this also brings into question the context of the design of the avatar itself in the same way that we look at the construction of the body in the sex doll industry for example. There are also many ways that avatars can be used for deception and today’s notion of ‘the fake’ – such as deepfake. However, there could be many different avatars available in the future for your webcam adventures. Why limit yourself – why not have fantastical additions such as a furry fetishist for example? The possibilities could be endless.

But in the future – if one adds AI self-learning response software to the avatar, then the need for human #Camgirls controlling the avatar behind the scenes may not be needed at all….

Trudy Barber is an expert in Cyber/Techno/Robot sexuality and SexTech correspondent at Tech Trends. Give her a poke on LinkedIn or Twitter @TrudyBarber

The post Camoji – Customizable XXX Avatars appeared first on Tech Trends.

The best virtual reality experiences can come from every day human connections. It all boils down to a basic living desire to see, hear, and feel those around us, according to Justin Moravetz, CEO and Creative Director at ZeroTransform, Inc. His company is now on a mission to bring those peer-to-peer visual and tactile connections to the platform they’re building with BaDoinkVR – a virtual reality adult entertainment production company that offers paid subscription services that showcase both 180 and 360-degree immersive videos featuring motion tracking and binaural audio. At last year’s AVN’s (the adult industry’s Oscar equivalent) they were named “Best Virtual Reality Site.”

ViRo.Club will enable erotic performers to interact directly with users in VR, leveraging motion-capture and haptic device technologies
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There is little doubt that there is money to be made here, as it will be news to precisely nobody that porn is big business
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ViRo.Club – which is currently in closed beta and will become available to BaDoinkVR subscribers later in the year– will enable erotic performers to interact directly with users in VR, leveraging motion-capture (promising “down to the fingertips” real-time accuracy) and haptic device technologies. Users will also be able to customize virtual environments and avatars to create a more personalized experience.

There is little doubt that there is money to be made here, as it will be news to precisely nobody that porn is big business. Moravetz is positive about capitalizing on that, but also cautious about unrealistic expectations of sudden and dramatic growth.

“We are seeing a shift towards a higher adoption rate with VR, a higher demand for new content, and less intimidation on form factor. This means the install base is growing and so is the reach to regions across the globe. It’s difficult to gauge revenue in the early days of VR since most of the funding was made available by grants from companies like Oculus, Google, and the like. But next year should be a great indication of things to come.”

The platform supports a huge variety of teledildonics hardware
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The platform supports a huge variety of teledildonics hardware (see list below) but Moravetz confides that it was far from a smooth ride to get them all to play nicely, and that lack of developer support on devices is a major challenge they’re seeking to address going forward.

“We’ve reached out to many of these teams only to be told they don’t have native 3D engine support. Once we overcame that hurdle internally, it was difficult to get these devices to consistently work on most computers since they’re all a little different. We are actively reaching out to more hardware manufacturers and are continuing to broaden integration with more devices.”

We are actively reaching out to more hardware manufacturers and are continuing to broaden integration with more devices
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• Lovense (All products)
• Kiiroo (Onyx/Pearl 1, Onyx/Pearl 2, OhMiBod/Kiiroo Fuse, Kiiroo Titan, Pornhub Blowbot)
• Fleshlight Launch
• Erostek ET-312B Electrostim Unit
• MysteryVibe Crescendo
• WeVibe (All products)
• Vorze (Cyclone SA, Cyclone X10, UFO SA – US Distribution Website)
• LiBo/PiPiJing Whale (and possibly other products)
• Rez Trancevibrator
• Youcups Warrior 2
• Vibratissimo (All products)
• Magic Motion (All products)
• MK312-BT Electrostim Unit

VR is becoming more social and it won't be long before expression tracking becomes a natural feature
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“We believe that this is the next natural evolution of VR and entertainment. We’ve developed ways to capture attention at a human level and we know this because when we look into the eyes of a VR character, who then smiles; we smile back without giving it a single thought.  VR is becoming more social and it won’t be long before expression tracking becomes a natural feature. We already see this feature available in our smartphones. It’s only a matter of time before everyone can smile in VR.”

Creating those meaningful and engaging connections, even intimacy, is a challenge that many up-and-coming VR Social Networks are grappling with. It would be funny it fell to porn to crack that problem. Funny, but not exactly surprising, as it wouldn’t be the first time that the adult industry tipped the scales towards mass consumer adoption of an emerging technology. From VHS to the Internet, the rule seems to be that for it to get big, it first needs to get dirty. Human nature, I suppose.

From VHS to the Internet, the rule seems to be that for technology to get big, it first needs to get dirty
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This article originally appeared on VRScout

Adult Entertainment & Technology Collide In BaDoinkVR via @alicebonasio https://t.co/uxAzB7qf1U pic.twitter.com/0Ak4kt05PL

— VRScout (@VRScout) February 5, 2019

For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies our VR Consultancy service offers comprehensive support in strategic deployment of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post VR to Blow Your Mind appeared first on Tech Trends.

A little over a year ago, VR Bangers shocked (and horrified) the world with their unconventional approach to recording VR porn, surprising not only their competitors in the industry but also producers operating in the field of VR experiences. The firm presented their one-of-a-kind head rig – a device with high-tech microphones and top-notch cameras which looked a lot like a mannequin’s head but changed the game when capturing VR porn.

VRB Head Rig 2.0 is the new virtual reality helmet camera for male porn actors. It's not only an improved version of the old rig but also an entirely new approach to comfort on set
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The Head Rig was supposed to simplify the creation of VR porn movies, thus allowing all the professional porn actresses working with the studio to feel more comfortable and so enhancing the immersion for the viewer. Even though the initiative was successful and the Head Rig found a whole lot of applications VR Bangers have announced something new. It’s time to for an upgrade!

VR Bangers’ Head Rig 2.0

VRB Head Rig 2.0 is the new virtual reality helmet camera for male porn actors. It’s not only an improved version of the old rig but also an entirely new approach to comfort on set. Compared to the previous model this one can be actually worn by a male porn star, at the same time allowing the performer to keep in touch with everything that’s going on around him. The inner screens are capable of streaming the view around the actor back to him in real time and the footage caught by the rig’s cameras is up to 8K resolution.

“With our new head rig, it is finally possible for our female actresses to kiss our male models for real,” says Xander Jones, Producer at Virtual Reality Bangers. “Even though the old head rig was doing great, we had some issues with it and not all the professional porn stars liked it, that’s why we had to come up with something new, more sophisticated than before. Our female stars can now kiss our male models for real!”

With our new head rig, it is finally possible for our female actresses to kiss our male models for real
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Thanks to the new design every viewer of VR Bangers content can now feel like he is really being kissed by the girl of his dreams in a more realistic way. The device is equipped with as many as 7 virtual reality cameras, so nothing that is going on set will be missed. It also has two binaural sound microphones built in to better capture all those wild moans and groans.

“We have actually thought about everything this time!” said Boris Smirnoff, CTO, VR Bangers “The project has consumed a lot of the company’s financial resources, but we believe that it’s going to be worth it. We paid special attention to make sure that we upgraded the device in every sense of the word, starting with a new design, microphones, cameras, and even lenses with a 300° field of view. What’s more, we introduced a special stabilization system to prevent the camera from being too shaky – I don’t want to sound like I am bragging about it, but it feels like we have actually covered everything this time!”

Thanks to the new design every viewer of VR Bangers content will now feel like he is really being kissed by the girl of his dreams in a way more realistic way than ever before
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According to the producers, even though the old VR head rig was built to make the experience more immersive for actresses, female talents never felt comfortable kissing it because it was simply scary and unnatural to them. What’s more, while being under the old rig, hardly any male actor could maintain a proper erection as he had to hold his head right back and be looking at the ceiling all the time. Getting rid of these issues was a driving force in the creation of this newest helmet, model 2.0 deals with all of those problems.

Even though the old VR head rig was built to make the experience more immersive for actresses, female talents never felt comfortable kissing it because it was simply scary and unnatural to them
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“This is the first ever head rig of its kind,” enthused Daniel Abramovich, the CEO of Virtual Reality Bangers. “I think that everyone who liked our previous device will fall in love with the newest one – after all, it’s an enhanced version in every way. We are about to test it in our upcoming VR porn films and then start using it regularly. You should see its impact in our movies relatively soon. The patent is still pending though, so it may take a while.”

Tech Trends has tried and tested many VR porn solutions and previously observed that the most intimate moments watching content come when the actress is up close to your face and her breathy words and moans really cut through the technology and connect the sensitive, naughty parts of your brain directly to the person on the other side of the lens.

The most intimate moments watching VR porn come when the actress is up close to your face and her breathy words and moans really cut through the technology and connect the sensitive, naughty parts of your brain
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We all suspend our disbelief on a superficial level when watching TV but the real power of VR is truly evident when the often cumbersome viewing technology is ripped out of the equation and our emotions hooked directly into the experience at hand. With VR porn Tech Trends has found that this ‘magic moment’ only happens up close so this new helmet camera promises to give us all some super immersive knee trembling moments! Can’t wait

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dep. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post New Sex Helmet Promises VR Intimacy appeared first on Tech Trends.

A look back at some of the most exciting moments & innovations Tech Trends covered in 2018!

Cryptocurrency

Crypto is crashing – or so the experts say –  but it is not going away, so Tech Trends was excited to welcome on board our very own FinTech wizard Richard Andrews who kicked off his soon to be regular series last month.

Is Cryptocurrency on the verge of going mainstream?

Image by MichaelWuensch from Pixabay

During the bull run of 2017/18, coins could pump 50% on little more than a tweet of a conference announcement or a trivial code release. The principles of decentralisation and innovation were king and governments, financial services and regulation of any kind the public enemy of this bright new decentralised future. But after the parabolic rise of 2017 and the sharp sell-off of 2018 investor sentiment has reversed dramatically in the hope that these same institutions can restore their fortunes.

Hopes of greater institutional participation hinge on the Bitcoin ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) allowing institutional investors to participate in the market without the risks of holding Bitcoin directly
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Hopes of greater institutional participation have largely hinged on the prospect of a Bitcoin ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) which would allow private and institutional investors to participate in the market without the risks of holding Bitcoin directly. A good comparison is the well-established GLD ETF that provides exposure to gold without holding it under the mattress. However, this approach has so far proved disappointing due to rejections and delays by the US Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC). Read his full article here.

Mixed Reality

HoloLens subscription service spurring immersive tech adoption

Since the HoloLens was first released almost three years ago, Microsoft has steadily been building partnerships and demonstrating an array of industry use cases across manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, education and many others.

Rather than place users in a fully computer-generated world, as virtual reality does, HoloLens allows them to put 3D digital models in the room alongside them. As the Windows-10-based product does not have wires or external cameras or require a phone or PC connection, users can walk around the objects they create and interact with them using gestures, gaze and voice. This tends to make it well suited for onsite industrial applications.

While many large companies have adopted mixed reality and HoloLens applications, the $3,000 price tag of the device has been perceived as a barrier for adoption among smaller players
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Yet while many large companies have adopted mixed reality and enthusiastically evangelized about the efficiency gains that they achieved with HoloLens applications, the $3,000 price tag of the device has been perceived as a barrier for adoption among smaller players, who understandably aren’t sure that the ROI would be justified in onboarding the technology at this relatively early stage. Read the full article here.

Health Tech

Epilepsy consortium believes technology could save the NHS £250 million a year

Today, up to one in 100 people in the UK are believed to suffer from epilepsy, leading to three per cent of all Accident and Emergency visits and a total of 1.3 million days in hospital a year. It’s a challenging condition to manage, particularly as existing medication only works for up to 70 per cent of sufferers. Of those who do not respond to medication, most are not suitable for invasive surgery, leaving many to continue to experience unpredictable and potentially life-threatening seizures. New research by Public Health England (PHE) has found a 70% rise in the number of deaths of epilepsy patients between 2001 and 2014. PHE said there was a need to improve the clinical management of patients and make improvements to their wider health by tackling smoking, alcohol intake and poor diet.

The programme provides patients with wearable technology that records vital health data to help clinicians build a tailored record of a patient’s condition and seizure patterns
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This is what myCareCentric Epilepsy consortium – funded by Innovate UK and comprised of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Kent, System C & Graphnet Care Alliance and Shearwater Systems – is hoping to do by equipping people with the ability to self-manage their condition. Running on Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure, the programme provides patients with wearable technology that records vital health data to help clinicians build a tailored record of a patient’s condition and seizure patterns. It has the potential to learn to classify seizures; to alert clinicians and carers in real-time so they can consult patients remotely, and provide essential lifestyle recommendations and drug prescriptions. Read the full article here.

A Tragic Loss to Science

Stephen Hawking taught us about about life, the universe, and everything

I once met Professor Stephen Hawking as he was coming out of the elevator at the John Lewis store in Cambridge (UK – The original one), where we both lived at the time. And although I’ll admit this might be far from the most interesting Stephen Hawking story out there, it’s still one of my favourites. Being in his presence was an incredible feeling. I felt ridiculously honoured to have bumped into him in this ordinary shop.

Now, after his death, I feel much the same way about having had the honour of sharing the same time-space with him. In an age of fake news, President Trump and imminent Brexit, he was our steadfast voice of reason. Right to the end, he advocated for the things he felt passionate about, such as defending the National Health Service against the likes of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who – with a level of misguided arrogance I can’t begin to comprehend – actually chose to argue with him (with entirely predictable results).

In an age of fake news, President Trump and imminent Brexit, Professor Stephen Hawking was our steadfast voice of reason
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And all this he achieved with wit, wisdom, and a wicked sense of humour, which endeared him to millions around the world. When combined with the inspiring way in which he defied an illness that should have killed him and transcended the disability which left him only able to move a few muscles on his face, he is indeed a formidably inspirational figure. Read the full article here.

Virtual Reality

PokerStars brings online poker to a truly immersive social VR experience

Tech Extremes

Ninja tech skills can come in handy even onboard an Antarctic research ship

A research trip around the Antarctic gave a Software Engineer Carles Pina i Estany a new perspective on how the very product he helped build was being used by scientists. Aboard a research vessel thousands of miles from shore and the nearest reliable Internet connection, these modern explorers routinely relied on Mendeley to do their work, even in subzero temperatures.

A research trip around the Antarctic gave a Software Engineer Carles Pina i Estany a new perspective on how the very product he helped build was being used by scientists
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The opportunity to take part in this unique expedition came when Carles’ partner, Jen Thomas, was invited to become Data Manager on a research trip led by the newly created Swiss Polar Institute, which has a mission to connect researchers active in polar or extreme environments, promotes public awareness of these environments, and facilitates access to research facilities in those extreme environments. As they were short of an IT person and Carles was already on a sabbatical from his work at Elsevier – during which he had already planned to travel around the world – he seized the opportunity to fulfil a longstanding ambition to take part in a polar expedition. Read the full article here.

Ted Talks with Zebra

Accessible design in the age of Industry 4.0

Earlier this month Tech Trends attended our first TEDSalon in New York! Presented by Zebra Technologies and TED the session theme was ‘The Next Wave’ and focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing a tsunami of change that will dramatically affect how we interact with and adapt to technology. The ways we choose to ride this wave will determine the shape of our future. Will we use this as an opportunity to solve our most pressing issues, or allow it to become a calamity that divides us? Hosted by TED’s Bryn Freedman, five speakers and one performer explored the tools and expertise we’ll harness to build the future

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing a tsunami of change that will dramatically affect how we interact with and adapt to technology
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The evening included fascinating presentations from experts on the woeful state of America’s election systems and how technology can help, and how we need to change the way we learn if AI is part of the process. Zebra’s own design technologist James Morley-Smith took inspiration from how his disabled son Fintan learned piano starting with the black keys (the opposite of the traditional method) to guide his designs. In his work at Zebra, Morley-Smith designs for employees who are often in noisy, poorly lit industrial settings and clad in bulky protective gear. By following the black-keys tactic, he’s factoring in users’ limitations from the get-go, much like the idea of accessible product design championed by Microsoft at this year’s Build Conference. Read the full article here.

Sex Tech

Porn legend Ron Jeremy sees VR as the future of the adult industry 

Every 5 minutes, Pornhub transmits more data than the entire contents of the New York Public library’s 50 million books. Pornhub’s yearly review of trends reveals that in 2017 a total of 3,732 Petabytes of porn data was streamed, which makes for 7,101 GB per minutes and 118 GB per second.

In 2017 a total of 3,732 Petabytes of porn data was streamed, which makes for 7,101 GB per minutes and 118 GB per second
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And a man who significantly contributed to those gigantic volumes of traffic is Ron Jeremy, an AVN Hall of Famer with over 2,000 films under his belt. Jeremy is the Guinness Book of Records holder for Most Appearances in Adult Films and a big believer in VR Porn. So much so that he’s now put his money where his mouth is and launched RonJeremyVR, a premium service hosting VR films directed by the big man himself.

Every 5 minutes, Pornhub transmits more data than the entire contents of the New York Public library’s 50 million books
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So where are we in this new age of online VR thrills? According to the Pornhub Year in Review 2017 report:

“Virtual Reality Porn continues to gain in popularity, moving up 14 spots on the list from 2016. Cheerleaders came back with a bang, moving up 366 slots and into our top 20 searches of the year. VR devices were a popular holiday gift, and it seems that porn was one of the first things people wanted to try out with their new headsets. After the New Year, average daily views remained much higher than the pre-Christmas levels at around half a million per day.”

With the demand for streaming porn continuing to grow, this data suggests that Ron is indeed on to a real winner
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With the demand for streaming porn continuing to grow, this data suggests that Ron is indeed on to a real winner.  Read the full chat with Ron here.

Internet of Things

IoT and the connected home have yet to fulfil their promise

IFA this year was much like previous years, hundreds of companies screaming from the rooftops about minimally iterative products. A few more pixels, a bit bigger screen, a bit faster processor and everything a bit thinner, oh and crap Robots. I love tech and love my gadgets and can geek out with the best of them but I attended IFA this time looking for more meaningful innovation than a bit better camera on an $800 smartphone. I am happy to report that I found it, but not where you might expect.

A decade ago the invention of the smartphone changed our lives but truly new products like this are few and far between, so every year companies try to reinvent what we already have through minor upgrades and tweaks. We are stuck in a loop where the market is slowly evolving but no real innovation is going on, and the largest companies in the world are all guilty of this lack of effort to progress, so we must start looking off the beaten track for those that are truly working to innovate.

The largest companies in the world are all guilty of this lack of effort to progress so we must start looking off the beaten track for innovation
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Thought sustainably producing high-quality, smart and connected home products @Beko can democratise technology
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IoT and the connected home has been much discussed and I have seen some interesting concepts and even a few eyebrow-raising products but it is not yet in our homes, changing the way we live, and judging from the hundreds of pathetic, unimaginative and almost useless ‘innovative IoT products’ on display at IFA 2018, it’s not going to happen any time soon. But Turkish behemoth Beko, makers of reasonably priced kitchen appliances, held a press conference to announce their technology strategy and issued a white paper on the future of technology in the home and impressed me with their assessment of how new, innovative technologies in our kitchens can improve our lives and can do it affordably and in the not-too-distant future. Read the full article here.

Well, it’s been a very exciting year for technology, and we’re off to play with our gadgets, but be sure to check back with us right after Christmas as we boldly go where no one has gone before in 2019…

Merry Christmas from TECH TRENDS!

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post A Year in Tech: 2018 Recap appeared first on Tech Trends.

Camsoda’s interactive Cardi-Bot talks, twerks, dances and shimmies at your command.

Adult entertainment webcam platform CamSoda has a very particular style of tongue-in-cheek innovation where it comes to product releases: From Dickometrics to PayPhal, they have made language learning sexier and even allowed people to monitor their cryptocurrency investments through their genitalia. Their latest development – dubbed the Cardi-Bot – follows along the same vein, claiming to be the world’s first sex robot that clients can interact with over the Internet – and apparently, it’s for free.

“With the popularity of HBO’s Westworld, and advancements in robotics and AI that have garnered international headlines for the likes of RealBotix and Sophia the Robot, robots over the past year have become all the rage,” says Daryn Parker, VP of Camsoda.

From Dickometrics to PayPhal, CamSoda have made language learning sexier and even allowed people to monitor their cryptocurrency investments through their genitalia
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Taking that appetite for sexbots to a new dimension, CamSoda seized the opportunity to extend their sex tech innovation skills by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) as part of their sexy repertoire in order for clients to interact more fully with new tech – live on the Internet. CamSoda promise that “Cardi-Bot can not only mimic human-like behaviour but also get down and dirty, all with the quick click of a button.”

By using Natural Language Processing technology and machine learning, CamSoda claims that Cardi-Bot will also be able to converse with users and engage in ‘dirty talk’ – live in real time on webcam over the Internet for free once a week. This gives users who would not otherwise be able to afford it, the chance to experience this titillating Turing test, with camming sessions accessible on both desktop and mobile devices via the CamSoda website.

In order to experience this free show, clients will enter a public chat room where they will be prompted by tip menus and a ‘Spin the Wheel’ game of chance so that conversations or specific movements can be requested. Clients can also take Cardi-Bot for a more intimate and private one to one session where the Robot will perform tasks, also activated by tips.

By using Natural Language Processing technology and machine learning, CamSoda claims that Cardi-Bot will also be able to converse with users and engage in dirty talk
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This seems all very exciting, but in order for twerking to be successful for example, surely there must be some sort of wobble or jiggle factor programmed into the erotic movement which Cardi-Bot in its current form may be missing out. The appropriation of Raunch Culture by makers of robots is an interesting one because of the chosen context and type of dance movements and appears to follow on from the commodification of African-American vernacular dance further developed within the sex industry and now in robotics.

In order for robot twerking to be successful for example, surely there must be some sort of wobble or jiggle factor programmed into the erotic movement which Cardi-Bot in its current form may be missing out
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Not only is this a way at looking at the sexualisation of dance, but could also identify specific moves for specific types of arousal. There are also practical design elements to consider because if the robot was not attached to a pole of some sort for stability, for example, it would probably fall over whilst having a good twerk.

VIRP

CamSoda claims that in the near future with machine learning Cardi-Bot will be able to react to more detailed instructions and be able to converse more intelligently. This would probably depend on the quality of conversation by the client, however. It is also hoped that the pole-dancing robot will be fitted with teledildonics in the future, which should enable an “unprecedented experience that mimics real-time sex”.

It is also hoped that the pole-dancing robot will be fitted with teledildonics in the future, which should enable an “unprecedented experience that mimics real-time sex”
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Perhaps to counteract the gleaming harsh metal look of the robot, CamSoda has suggested that they could eventually offer a hybrid interactive robot that is not only fitted with teledildonics but with a more human style artificial flesh covering – like those used to create the “Real Doll” phenomenon for example.

CamSoda like to think of this as ‘VIRP’, short for “Virtual Intercourse with Real People”. This could help with the wobble or jiggle factor mentioned earlier, possibly giving a more realistic experience for the client. This concept strangely sounds more like encouragement for the robot to interact with real people than promoting real people to interact with the robot.

This concept strangely sounds more like encouragement for the robot to interact with real people than promoting real people to interact with the robot
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The Future?

Perhaps Cardi-Bot is part of the evolutionary design process of sex robot development, where research and experiment combine not only with haptics, movement and what is erotic but also with machine learning. Perhaps new tech responses learnt through entertainment robots such as Cardi-bot would determine things like how we perceive a smile or say, an eyebrow twitch in relation to attraction and empathy.

How and if Cardi-Bot creates a knock-on effect in real-world relationships will be interesting too
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There is also potential for learning about power and submission and expectations both real and unrealistic. The uncanny valley will apply to eroticism here and how learned responses will affect the ego of a client. How and if this creates a knock-on effect on real-world relationships will be interesting too.

Nonetheless, it does mean that we will need to up our knowledge of dance moves – with the launching of Cardi-Bot we will definitely need to think about how we shimmy, jiggle and twerk our way into the future.

Trudy Barber is an expert in Cyber/techno/robot sexuality and SexTech correspondent at Tech Trends. Give her a poke on LinkedIn or Twitter @TrudyBarber

The post Dancing with Sex Robots? Yes You Cam! appeared first on Tech Trends.