computer science

Sex technology

Sex technology is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Sex technology rather than just read about it. In short: Sex technology, also known as sex-tech or sextech, are technologies that are designed to simulate or assist in the human sexual experience. The term was first propagated online by Cindy Gallop, associated with the beginning of the Information Age on the offset of the 2010s, and its sometimes used interchangeably with the term "teledildonics".

Key takeaways

Sex technology belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Sex technology to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Sex technology from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Sex technology, also known as sex-tech or sextech, are technologies that are designed to simulate or assist in the human sexual experience. The term was first propagated online by Cindy Gallop, associated with the beginning of the Information Age on the offset of the 2010s, and its sometimes used interchangeably with the term "teledildonics". Sex technology comprehends the usage of remote controlled or autonomous sex toys, sexual health platforms or apps, virtual reality pornography and sex robots. Other notable individuals who have pushed the development and/or divulgation of sex technology include:

Polly Rodriguez (Co-founder and CEO of Unbound, a sexual wellness company) Alexandra Fine and Janet Lieberman (Founders of Dame Products) Andrea Barrica (Founder and CEO of O.School, an online sexual education platform) Anna Lee (Co-founder of Lioness) Kate Moyle (Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist, Co-founder of The Thought House Partnership, and UK Sex Expert for LELO) Raven V. Faber (Founder and CEO of EngErotics, Inc) Dr. Soumyadip Rakshit and Stephanie Alys (Co-founders of MysteryVibe) Dr. Kate Devlin (Goldsmiths University) Maxine Lynn (Sextech Attorney, and CEO of Stript Erotic Designs) Alix Fox Nichi Hodgson Rebecca Newman Gigi Engle Bryony Cole Suzannah Weiss Joseph Seon Kim Hallie Lieberman GirlOnTheNet Andrea Barrica estimated the market at $30 billion in 2018, with $800 million coming from Amazon sales.

Impact

Advantages Possibility of sexual enlightenment Stronger relationships Suitable for both men and women of all types Cure for loneliness

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 Augmented reality Cybersex Haptic technology Teledildonics Vibrators Virtual reality sex

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 Internet Future of Sex - The world's leading publication on the intersection of technology and sexuality.

External links Future of Sex Technophilia - "Sex hasn’t changed much, but our various points of access to it have changed dramatically along with new technologies" The future of sex How SexTech impacts our lives Technology for better sex How SexTech could threaten the world's oldest profession How technology makes sex life better Sex in the digital age How the internet has changed sex

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Sex technology

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Sex technology claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Sex technology before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Sex technology ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Sex technology

In research: Sex technology appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Sex technology in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Sex technology is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Internet culture, Sex industry, Sexuality and computing, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Sex technology outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Sex technology” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Sex technology in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Sex technology means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Sex technology out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sex technology in simple terms?

Why does Sex technology matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Sex technology?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Sex technology.