All that may be necessary is to put all the pieces together

Speaking to imageantra, mixed reality developer Sam Hall postulates multisensory, thoroughly engaging metaversal erotic encounters could be commonplace in less than ten years.

The CEO of Mixed Reality Rooms (MRR), a business-to-business company specializing in virtual and augmented reality events and unique constructs like their Arcate Strange “gamified drinks-pouring” robot, Hall explains:

“We believe the future of metaverse sex will be a combination of virtual reality headsets combined with sex toys that can be linked using technology that already exists, such as Bluetooth, to help create a fully immersive experience.” 

Hall continues, saying, “Immersive experiences are compelling, they simulate images exceptionally well, and when combined with haptic technology, such as sex toys that respond to stimuli and produce physical results, they will provide an experience close enough to the real thing.”

Hall foresees the fusion of smart sex tech and virtual reality to make his dream come true, where “The metaverse has no limits and will allow people to live out all their sexual fantasies,” might be here sooner than he, or anyone else, might imagine.

“No limit to the experiences they can enjoy”

Similar to many of our articles on the subject, Hall’s sexual metaverse would enable users to freely expand their sexual horizons, “They can be whoever they want to be in these virtual worlds and, in theory, there will be no limit to the experiences they can enjoy.”

Unfortunately, he also made a comment that’s become far too common, even among some researchers who should know better, “Do I think this is good for us as humans? No, but at the same time sex is a basic human desire and people will need an outlet to express themselves.”

Other research papers such as the one published by Leighton Evans from the Department of Media and Communication, Swansea University, whose “Findings demonstrate some increases in arousal and empathy in using VR pornography.”

Similarly, Modern Intimacy wrote of virtual reality adult entertainment, “The first major benefit is greater immersion. Porn is all about fulfilling fantasies and exploring imaginative scenarios through visual stimulation. Feeling as though you are within the scene could help your imagination go further and open up new avenues for sexual arousal.”

Insert tab A into slot B

Back to the question of whether or not we’ll see Hall’s sexual metaverse in ten years or less, he’s correct in pointing out the number of recent developments in providing virtual reality with realistic sensations like touch, taste, and small—in addition to VR’s already lifelike sounds and visuals.

The same is true for virtual/augmented and mixed reality hardware, as in Apple’s launch of its groundbreaking Apple Vision Pro setting a new standard—and getting the adult entertainment industry (ahem) excited about its possibilities.

As for Bluetooth-equipped sexual devices, we’re arguably in the middle of an integrative tech boom, with a range of VR adult sites promoting how well their videos are compatible with products from Kiiroo, Lovense, and others.

Now, not when?

As for how fast all these various pieces might come together to forge Hall’s sexual metaverse and why we might be able to enjoy it in far less time than he estimates, look no further than the meteoric rise of erotic chatbots. 

Specifically, how ChatGPT, not neglecting the rise of other large language model systems such as Noma.ai, Replika, or Kindroid, launched less than a year ago. 

Factoring in the ever-rising interest in and commercial success of sexuality-related technology—which, as Statista reports, boasts a “global market size of about 34 billion U.S. dollars in 2021“—it’s easy to see Hall’s prediction of a fully immersive, fully-sex tech integrated metaverse in ten years as far too conservative an estimate.

Today, not tomorrow

As with erotic chatbots, my prognosis is Hall’s dream will probably take a lot of people by surprise: one day, just a plethora of bits and pieces; the next, someone, somewhere, has assembled them in the right order—no doubt with more than a little help from an artificial intelligence or two—and, viola: we’ll be able to live out outrageous fantasies, experiment with various gender expressions, and experience what life and sex are like for our fellow human beings.

Wonderful though all that may sound, we have to keep our collective fingers crossed that people like Hall will eventually learn that pre-judging any technological innovation always does more harm than good.

Particularly for those for whom an erotic multiverse could mean freedom to not just play however they want with anyone they need but also where they’ll be from bigotry, ignorance, and hate.

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post Sooner Than Tomorrow: Is Fully Immersive VR Sex Right Around the Corner? appeared first on Future of Sex.

Finding partners or playmates is getting easier—and hotter!

You’ve invested in the latest VR gear; your avatar is designed to be futuristic or perhaps realistic. If you have one, you’ve cleared the interactions with your real-life partner, and now you’re ready to find a playmate or two in the metaverse.

Remember, the metaverse is not just escaping the less-than-ideal; it’s the possibility of enhancing what is already good in your world as you interact and socialize with others in real-time. 

There, you might be able to meet people much the same as if you were on a dating app similar to Timber, swiping to indicate your interest, or you might strike up a conversation with someone in a virtual bar.

But first, you have to find a suitable platform to entertain your wanderlust—or wanderlove—as the case may be. 

Meeting others

One possibility is Nevermet, a metaverse dating site where the possibility of meeting your next date is practically endless. Another popular VR site, Dovey Dates, offers an opportunity to find and experience cyber chemistry—and should your virtual date not go as planned, you can take off your VR goggles and try again later. No harm, no foul. 

Whether you choose either Nevermet, Dovey Dates, VRChat, Second Life, Nevermet, Dovey Dates, Flirtual, Planet Theta, or any of the newer platforms, after creating your avatar, you’ll be ready to start navigating the metaverse—where there’s a good chance you’ll could reap some of the benefits of VR dating. 

What to expect

At best, you may find an antidote to depression, isolation, boredom, and, in some cases, find a playmate who shares your kinks.  

One of the better benefits might be establishing a deeper connection with someone special based upon more than just you or their looks. As everyone knows, an avatar is made up—but your interactions with others won’t be. 

If you are touch averse, the thought of a contactless relationship might be just what you need. For others, the lack of physical intimacy might make the metaverse less appealing.

As Donna Sarkur, writing for Glam, said, “Similar to social media interactions, you can chat with others through text, audio, and video clips of your digital avatar. However, interactions can also be taken one step further with new AI speech translators.” 

Imagine the possibility of being fluent with anyone, no matter their or your native language: suddenly, your dating pool might go from a puddle to a flood. 

If that wasn’t enough

The intersection of the metaverse and adult toys or sexbots are also on the way, including gloves able to mimic physical contact in virtual reality. 

Meanwhile, Viro Playspace is already selling Bluetooth-enabled VR adult toys. So we might soon see—and feel—technology that’ll make it possible to travel anywhere, real or imagined, to experience adult pleasures with a virtual partner.

A virtually better world

Consider the potentially good outcomes for us all, especially the physically challenged or maybe couples needing a change of pace. Think what it’d be like to explore endless adult scenarios with a loving partner in a virtual Tuscany or Tahiti on a Friday night.

As with any behavior, sexual or otherwise, it’s important to be ethical in the metaverse, and consent is always necessary—and sexy. Though it seems like we might have a long way to go, as Samantha Bitty writes for Refinery29, “Technology has evolved faster than our ethics around sex and relationships in those spaces.”

How we behave in the metaverse will always reflect who we are. Things might be crazy right now, but as with other technologies, we’ll eventually figure out how to be consensual and civil in the metaverse—because the potential for you and everyone else to find well-being with a real and virtual partner is unlimited. 

Image Sources: Depositphotos

The post Looking for Love in All the Virtual Places: Dating in the Metaverse appeared first on Future of Sex.