The fusion of sex and technology has changed the world. But what effect does all this sex-driven technology have on our culture? On the first episode of "Wired for Sex," you'll see how sexual urges forge profound technological change, and how this synthesis of flesh and machine has transformed our lives and culture.
'Wired for Sex' show notes
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Segment 1: Visit the Adult Entertainment Expo
The Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas is the biggest gathering of porn power players in the world. This orgy of fans, pimps, and porn stars plays out over four days in January every year. For decades, adult entertainment was a small but growing part of the Consumer Electronic Shows, which take place at the same time. It was a natural fit, as the adult industry has traditionally been an early adopter of new technology, say attendees. But by 1999, the adult part of the show burgeoned into its own expo.
Voice-activated DVDs -- Adult movie director Wit Maverick is releasing a voice-activated DVD. You can ask the characters to perform certain acts and can talk to the character from a third-person point of view. Interactive DVDs are huge moneymakers. The first one, "Virtual Sex with Jenna," was released in 1999 and has become one of the Top 10 best-selling adult DVDs ever.
Here's more information on AdultDex.
People featured- Wit Maverick -- adult movie director
- Jenna Jameson -- adult movie actress
- Al Cooper -- psychologist, marital and sexuality therapy
- Ginger Lynn -- adult movie actress
- David Greenfield -- psychologist and authority on the Internet and Internet behaviors
- Richard Kadrey -- author
- Ray Kurzweil -- author, inventor
Segment 2: Cave painting to camcorders
Humans have been documenting sex for millennia, and technological advance has often been driven by this powerful urge to create and view erotic images. According to archeologists, erotic cave paintings in Europe and Asia date back thousands of years. The first illustrated erotic book was published in 1527 shortly after the invention of the printing press. More recent inventions have led to changes in the adult industry.
Motion picture camera In 1889 Thomas Edison developed the first motion picture system. Within a year, the adult film industry was born when the first pornographic film was made. It was passed among gentlemen or shown at gentleman's clubs.
Polaroid When Polaroid developed the instant camera in 1937, once again the entire erotic field saw something that they could exploit. Polaroid users could develop their pictures privately without having to get photos developed by a service.
The VCR In 1977, a new device called the VCR made watching pornography even easier when it brought triple X movies into average American homes for the first time. Adult films returned the favor by making videotape one of the most popular and lucrative technologies ever. Some believe that the VHS format won out over the Beta format because Sony refused originally to license its product to the adult industry that clamored to get it. The adult industry converted its films to the VHS standard and it took off.
Camcorder The sex-tech romance continued in the 1980s with the advent of the camcorder. In the glory days of film, only about 100 new adult titles were made every year. With the handheld camcorder, porn directors could complete an entire film in one day with a small production budget. Today, more than 10,000 adult films are produced every year in America alone.
More information
People featured- David Buss -- professor, evolutionary studies
- Dr. C.J. Scheiner -- psychologist, erotica and sexology
Segment 3 -- Amateur night
The bond between sex and technology has only grown stronger with the advent of mass media in the early 20th century. Film, videotape, and the Internet have brought pornographic images to more people than ever before. Amateur porn is the fastest-growing segment of adult entertainment. Homegrown sex videos and websites have attracted millions of fans. Daeron and Becca know a bit more about this than the average couple. A year ago, they began an adult website, focused on a niche fetish -- women wearing glasses. They also shot their own X-rated film, which they are distributing over the Internet.
More information
Segment 4 -- Virtual sexual partners
Now that millions of Americans are using technology to express their own personal sexual fantasies, how will this second sexual revolution end? Experts say that soon people will be able to create virtual sexual partners.
Virtual reality is still in its infancy, but devices may eventually be able to communicate directly with our nervous system and brain, allowing us to create entire imaginary worlds. But recreating even the most basic physical experience is beyond our technological grasp for now.
More information
People Featured- David Schlesinger -- Vivid Videos spokesperson
