Sex Sells ... Robots

About 5 years ago a science fiction comedy program called Sealab 2021 had an ongoing joke about putting a human brain into a robot body. This led, of course, to other running jokes about robot sex. It seemed funny at the time, and more than a little far-fetched.

A robot recently revealed at an adult entertainment expo in New York showed that the ability, and market, for sexual robots is far from far-fetched. The tech is there. The money is there. What about the demand?

Who are we kidding? Robots that walk, robots that talk, robots that clean the house and serve food-bah! We Americans are far more cultured. We have higher needs. We want robots that screw. So, yes, the demand is there.

Until now, the interest in research for autonomous robots was mostly within the realm of care-giving and military, with funding that was almost exclusively tied in with government. But this is changing.

So while Japan is continuing to focus on robotic technology that will offer tireless care-giving for the aging Japanese population, and Israel is becoming more and more reliant on a mechanized presence on the battle-field; America is seeing the emergence of autonomous robots in entertainment.

Sure, we have military applications for robotics, too. There are robots for surveillance on the battle-field, and for disarming bombs in cities. But honestly, we in the private sector are apparently more interested in bombs of another kind. And we are willing to throw enough money at it to fund further research.

Sure this is "adult entertainment." But the good news is this: robotic technology and A.I. research is able to find a major source of funding that isn't from the government! Both military, and medical research, are heavily government funded and supervised by bureaucracy. So it's refreshing to see that this is an area that is able to move sustainably into the private sector in America.

In New York, Douglas Hines, showed that he knows where the real interest and money is to be found today. Hines is the creator of Roxxxy Robot. (Note the triple "X" in the name.) He's looking at the porn industry to bring in the cash to fund his further robotic development.

Touting the "world's first sex robot," Hines has been publicly demonstrating a dark haired, negligee-clad robot named Roxxxy. And by "publicly demonstrating," I mean publicly holding her hand and talking with her.

Roxxxy made some waves being shown recently at the Adult Entertainment Expo, gaining widespread notice. She has 5 personality settings: "Frigid Farrah," "Wild Wendy," "S&M Susan," "Barely 18," and "Mature Martha." She's sensitive to touch, and starts in a conversational mood. She responds to approach and hand-holding and, of course, more.

Supply and demand, right? And there is little doubt that sex sells. So while other people will fund the need for caretakers and military presence, we Americans will throw money at entertainment. And that includes, it seems, robot sex. Or more correctly, sex with robots.

However, it will not be too long before the technology is further developed, increases in affordability, and moves into other areas of the private sector. Think robot maids in the home, robot waitresses in restaurants, robot private security officers, robot private school teachers.

Some of this was shown in the past, but only by University labs and other groups with government funding. It wasn't practical anymore than concept cars are practical. The private sector will take this technology and make it something usable.

For the time being, the use is apparently coming from the so-called adult entertainment industry-meaning robot porn. But be patient. The private sector economy will take its course, and bring the technology where the demand leads it.

In the meantime ... nails are like candy to robots, according to Sealab 2021. So keep a jar of nails out for "Mature Martha" tonight.

Sources:

"Japan Sees Future in Service Robots." Mathaba News, 18 Jan 2010

Lieber, Dov, "IDF developing battlefield robot snake." Jerusalem Post, 9 Jun 2009.

"Walking Robot Switches Gaits Autonomously and Flexibly." Science Daily, 18 Jan 2010.

"World's first sex robot unveiled at Adult Entertainment Expo." Associated Press, 11 Jan 2010.