The term teledildonics is usually used when referring to the use of computer-mediated software and hardware to facilitate remote sex between two (or more) people. An easier way of thinking about it is using a sex toy where someone else is controlling the toy, and they aren’t in the room. Teledildonics could be considered an extension of cybersex that brings in a tactile interaction between two people.
The word was first coined in the 1980s by Internet philosopher and pioneer Ted Nelson. The first lengthy discussion of teledildonics can be found in Howard Rheingold’s 1991 book , where he devotes a chapter to the subject of teledildonics and sex in virtual reality.
Teledildonic Theory vs. Practice
Even though the earliest mentions of teledildonics were related to practical applications, most of what has been written about teledildonics has been theoretical or fictional. Early talk of teledildonics focused on its role in virtual reality sex. The idea was that you could put on a suit and some cool-looking headgear and “experience” yourself having sex with anyone in the world you wanted (most often it was pointed out that you could have sex with famous people).As the 1980s construction of virtual reality has fallen away, designers and programmers have turned their attention to more concrete needs and how technology might address them, most teledildonic ideas are proposed as a way for people in long distance relationships to have sex remotely. Even though people have been discussing teledildonics for over fifteen years, no one has designed and produced a product that has caught the attention of the general public. It’s hard to know whether that’s because the current products are either too difficult to make or use, too expensive to buy, or if the current line of thinking regarding teledildonics is off the mark. Most of the current devices that are available mimic the use of sex toys between couples in real life, or try to mimic actual sex. Perhaps teledildonic developers should be looking for a fundamentally different model for remote control sex.
Currently Available Teledildonics
Teledildonic products that are currently available fall into a few different categories. There are places on line where you can go to learn to make your own teledildonics. These are inexpensive but require time and at least a little technical know how (or the patience to learn). These products work, but usually don’t look sexy and shiny and fresh out of the box. There are a few services where you can buy sex toys and pay a fee to use a website/software to control the toys online. These products can be expensive, the sex toys themselves are often of poor quality, and the functionality/user experience leaves much to be desired.Finally, there are very expensive products that can be custom ordered but costs thousands of dollars. My reviews below may seem overly critical, but they aren’t meant to discourage you from trying these services. I would say that the main drawback to all of these products is their limited focus on what sex is. By ignoring the broader emotional and physical context of sex, and only focusing on the genitals, most of these products will come up short in the end.
