If you're reading about teledildonics and hi-definition porn, it must mean Sex Drive Daily is back!

While most of us quietly went along living our off line "first lives" last week some confusing things happened over at Wired's always readable sex blog, Sex Drive Daily. First they were there. Then they merged with a larger Wired blog about the body (which seemed reasonable enough). And now they're back (which is reason to rejoice).

I've been indulging in fascinating world of sex and technology Sex Drive covers and here are two favorites from the past few days.

Today Regina points us to an article in the International Herald Tribune business section about the effect high-definition is having on the porn industry. Because I work in television I've been aware of all the new lighting, set, and make-up needs that are cropping up with the intense gaze that Hi-Definition cameras throw on subjects. And I know that some of the biggest porn movies of late have been released in Hi-Definition, despite the lack of players to play them on. But I hadn't really thought about the nitty gritty of HD porn. From Regina's post:

I don't know whether to be outraged, to roll my eyes, or to be amused by the effect high-definition video is having on porn performers.

No, I take that back. I'm not amused, not at all.

These women are already waifs, and now they're told to hit the gym and cut back on carbs so they won't have any jiggle on HD screen? They're getting more cosmetic surgery so they "look better" on HD?

Last week Regina wrote a column about a new teledildonic venture, called Segment, which isn't quite available yet, but sounds like another exciting step in commercially available teledildonics (if it materializes). The device, which is actually two devices, allows you and your partner to feel each others touch via toys designed with sensors that read the touch of one partner, and vibrators that simulate the touch on the other end. A thorough description, with links to pictures is here.

Apparently the new and updated Sex Drive Daily will feature at least one other blogger, covering sex research, which would be great since most scientific coverage of sex amounts to little more than reprinting Pfizer and Durex press releases. Hopefully they'll both be around for a long time to come.

Related - Sex and Technology on About.com