For the love of technology! Sex robots and virtual reality
MIT professor Sherry Turkle and others have done studies on the intensity of the bond people tend to form with what she calls "relational artifacts" such as robots. Turkle defines relational artifacts as "non-living objects that are, or at least appear to be, sufficiently responsive that people naturally conceive themselves to be in a mutual relationship with them." Immersive VR experiences also offer a level of intensity that is qualitatively different from other sorts of media.
We believe that in the coming decades, as these technologies become more sophisticated and more widespread, there will be an increasing number of people who will choose to find sex and partnership entirely from artificial agents or in virtual environments.
And as they do, we will also see the emergence of this new sexual identity we call digisexuality.
Sexuality and stigma
A digisexual is someone who sees immersive technologies such as sex robots and virtual realitypornography as integral to their sexual experience, and who feels no need to search for physical intimacy with human partners.
Marginal sexual identities almost invariably face stigma, and it is already apparent that digisexuals will be no exception. The idea of digisexuality as an identity has already received strong negative reactions from many commentators in the media and online.
Our research addresses one specific piece of the puzzle: the question of how technology impacts sexual-identity formation, and how people with technologically based sexual identities may face stigma and prejudice. Yes, there are dangers. But whips and paddles can hurt too.
See the full story here: https://phys.org/news/2019-02-technology-sex-robots-virtual-reality.html