Page 62 - AVN January 2018

BUSINESS | TECH NEWS
SHE, ROBOT
The girlfriend experience—without the girl
the latest sex tech trend: sex robots. Customers can order the perfect
woman—made of either silicone or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)—
and choose her boob and nipple size, amount of pubic hair, and shape
IF AN ALIEN LANDED ON PLANET EARTH, he would get really excited by
of her perfect, robotic vagina. The next generation of
sex dolls is here, and they have evolved into “sex
robots,” programmed to heat up, self lubricant,
say what a man really wants to hear, and fake
real orgasms. The sexbots are coming.
But the new technology has created new conversations
in the psychology and sociology fields: Are sex robots
good or bad for our society? Do they contribute to the
objectification of women? Should humans be sleeping
with non-humans? Does their use encourage rapey
behavior? Social scientists warn that people could become
addicted to the pleasure bots or become “socially isolated.”
I have no problem with anyone who wants to bang a
giant silicone sex doll. In fact, every married woman
in America should get one of these things for her
husband as a stunt double.
Realbotix, formerly Real Doll, has invented
“Harmony,” who is “unlike any simple
doll you may have seen before. She is a
combination of the highest-quality doll
with “advanced robotic components,”
the company says. Her robotic head
provides a “face to face conversation”
and her eyes move to stimulate “real”
eye contact. She is “your perfect
companion,” Realbotix promises.
“She is customizable to deliver the
most enjoyable conversation and
interaction you can have with a
machine,” as if people are paying
tens of thousands of dollars on one
of these things “just to talk.” The
company calls her its “first sex robot.”
I have no problem with anyone who wants to bang a giant silicone sex doll. In fact, every married woman in America
should get one SEXPLORATIONS | By Anka Radakovich
of these things for her husband as a stunt double.
Sex Doll Sex Harassment
In October, a sex doll named “Samantha” was
“molested and destroyed” by attendees of the Arts
Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. Sergi Santos, who
founded the company Synthea Amatus in Barcelona,
reported that she was “heavily soiled” and her breasts
were so beat up that she had to be returned to the
factory for new ones. The incident was reported in
European newspapers as a “wild frenzy” of “horny
tech nerds.” Good times.
Men love these things, maybe a little too much. From a psychological
standpoint, they like the idea that they can “do anything they want to them.” The
last time I saw a robotic sex doll displayed, a stream of guys who looked like they
were curious to see what she felt like waited in line to feel her up. In a Candid
Camera moment, one dude twanged her realistic coochie like a banjo, shook her
gigantic funbags like they were water balloons, stretched her nipples out four
inches, slapped her face as her big silicone lips flopped up and down, then
stuck his entire fist down her throat. Next time a guy does this to me, I’ll
know he’s been with a sex doll.
Sex Doll Brothels
Sex dolls are so big in Europe that “sex doll brothels” have opened in
Barcelona, Tokyo, Dublin, and soon London. LumiDolls is the first sex doll
manufacturer that “offers sexual services with beautiful silicone ladies,” they
say. “We are the only Sex Doll shop that brings the possibility of rent and try
before you buy your new sex partner.”
“LumiDolls was born with the aim of offering something totally new
and revolutionary within the paid sector,” the company points out. “We
are the world’s first brand to offer sexual encounters with SexDolls, totally
realistic dolls both in movement of their joints and in touch, which will
allow you to fulfill all your fantasies without any limits. These sexdolls
make the experience more pleasurable, exciting, and erotic than you
can imagine,” they say, making it seem like it’s almost as good as
getting laid. The good news is that business is booming. The gross-
out news is that each doll has to be “disinfected” before the next
guy tries her out. While customers are asked to wear a condom,
I doubt any sex dolls are programmed to say, “If you won’t wear a
condom, then get off me!”
Future Sex With Sex Dolls
Professor Noel Shakey from Sheffield University in Sheffield, England,
recently published a paper with the “Foundation of Responsible Robotics”
which stated, “Robotic and artificial intelligence is a long way off the technical
sophistication of the theme park in Westworld, but we’re already seeing dolls
being used in the adult entertainment industry and we can expect robots to
join them soon.”
Speaking of the adult industry, sex dolls have been in the mix at the AVN
Adult Entertainment Expo for the last few years. This January, for instance,
1amdollusa will display its porn star sex dolls at the AVN Expo. Brent, the
company’s president, says that they “provide a quality realistic and affordable
love doll,” ranging in price from $1,500 to $2,300. “Each body has the option
for 40 faces, and then customers can pick skin color, eye color, even fingernail
and toenail colors.
“I think most consider our customer base to be a nerdy guy living in his
parents’ basement,” Brent notes, but explains that couldn’t be further from
the truth. “Our customers range from successful businessmen to couples
experimenting with the swinging lifestyle.”
The company will have “five to six different dolls at the show, including
two dolls based on adult film stars Katie Morgan and Misty Stone.” (For more
information on the dolls, visit 1amdollusa.com.)
Other manufacturers also will bring their models to the show, including
Shenzhen Shengyi Adult Products and iDoll. The latter company created
xHamsterina, a joint venture with the adult site xHamster.com. (For information,
visit iDoll.name.)
So expect to meet some high-tech “girlfriends” on the AVN Expo floor,
showcasing the latest in sex doll tech. But this time around, they’ll have
bodyguards.
Anka Radakovich is a legendary sex columnist who wrote a groundbreaking column for Details
magazine. Currently she writes for British GQ and Sexpert.com. She is the author of three books, including
her newest, The Wild Girls Club, Part 2. She has appeared multiple times on TV talk shows, including
eight appearances with Conan O’Brien. She is also a certified sexologist. We are thrilled to have her as a
contributor. Follow Anka Radakovich on Twitter: @ankarad.
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