The future of power-exchange is going to be a wild ride!

Without a doubt, human sexuality is in the middle of some truly massive changes. Perusing just a few of our articles here at Future of Sex is enough to reveal how all kinds of new technologies are defining and expanding practically every aspect of emotional and physical pleasure.

It wasn’t until recently, for example, that the idea of being Sapiosexual—or, if you prefer, Digisexuals—only existed in science fiction. Now, though, we have entire communities of people who find robots and other erotic technologies sexually appealing.

And then there’s BDSM: the world of erotic power exchange. With the coming of these new technologies, we’re going to look at how it’s undergoing some equally, if not even more dramatic, changes—and what the near and far future might hold for this aspect of human sexuality.

Digital domination

Back in April of last year, Miranda Kane wrote an article for Metro UK exploring this very subject. In her piece, she outlined many developments she saw as altering BDSM play—some of which we’ll be touching on shortly.

But before we do, it’s also worth explaining just what BDSM sex actually is. Or, as you’ll soon realize, some of what is.

You see BDSM, which often stands for Bondage/Discipline/Sadism/Masochism, isn’t exactly a precise term. Rather, it covers a huge range of interests and activities, including many that don’t always include power exchange: the consensual surrendering of sexual and/or emotional control to another.

Because it is such a wide-spreading umbrella term, it’s important to approach any discussion of BDSM knowing that it’s just about impossible to be totally inclusive of every aspect of it—especially in a short article like this one.

That being said, it’s also worth noting that a large part of the BDSM community tries to hold to the basic precepts of safety, sanity, and consensuality, to protect all those involved. Even, as we’ll soon find out, when technology is altering just about everything involving kinky play.

Erotic control

Echoing back to power exchange, for the first time dominants can be given unprecedented levels of access to their willing submissives.

In her article, Kane points out that several recent innovations have made constant monitoring not just possible but rather easy. Webcams, for instance, can be used to keep tabs on a willing submissive—as can giving permission for a dominant to oversee or control their property’s social media.

This means that the common BDSM fantasy of 24/7 slavehood is much more attainable: that play doesn’t have to stop once both parties leave their physical playspace.

Reaching out to touch someone

But ownership doesn’t have to be restricted to passive monitoring. What is becoming a common feature of many sexual devices is the ability for them to be controlled remotely, giving a dominant the ability to turn one of them on as a sexual reward for good behavior—or switching them off when their slave misbehaves.

Similarly, it is now possible for things like mild electric shocks to be delivered as punishment. Though do keep in mind that electrical play is something that should only be done after extensive education in the risks involved.

Artificial domination

Speaking of electrical shocks, in July of last year we covered Gary, who had created an Alexa-controlled robotic dominant that could, on command, give jolts to his girlfriend/submissive.

While a garage project, the potential for the widespread use of something like Mistress Alexa is clear-cut: an artificial intelligence that could be linked to a physical device and so becoming the dream dominant to many hungry submissives.

Even removing an Internet-of-things sexual device or an electric shock deliverer, there are still a large number of kinky folks who would absolutely enjoy being dominated in their day-to-day lives—even if the person telling them what to do, or not do, isn't exactly human.

Staying with artificial intelligence, a non-human dominant has a lot going for it. Not only would it be tireless but it could be programmed not just for being strict and controlling but working with the exact emotional and physical needs of its submissive. This way it could become a form of therapist and even a mentor: guiding its property to sexual pleasure but also to attain all kinds of life goals.

Impacts and constrictions

Looking farther into the future, thought the use of smart materials it might even be possible to create other forms of physical play that could be controlled by either a remote person or, again, by artificial intelligences.

Soft robotics, programmable matter, or some combination of the two could take the form of a kind of garment that a submissive could wear. This way they could be rewarded with sexual pleasure, a form of bondage, or punished by short, intense pressure simulating a cane stroke.

Safety, again, would be an essential part of this system. Biometric sensors would tell the person, or program in charge exactly how much pressure or pleasure the submissive could safely take—and if something were to go wrong immediately call for medical assistance.

Power exchange and the future

Sex is changing and will continue to change more and more each and every year: our erotic horizons shifting and evolving with each new technological step. Things like gender, what sexual pleasure is and can be, new orientations, and more will make the future equally thrilling as well as challenging.

With these changes, the world of BDSM will also be transformed: with dominants, submissives, and the other sexualities under its umbrella term, having a universe of new tools and power dynamics to play with.

And, as we continue to develop things like artificial intelligence software, maybe a time when we will be controlled by machines—with our safe, sane, and consensual pleasure, of course.

Image sources: torbakhopper, zombieite, torbakhopper, Diane Simpson, Michael Roos