London – by Rosita Pirulli
Sex robots and new sex mobile devices are the latest news on social networks: Kissenger is one of them.
Goldsmiths University hosted the Sex Robots Festival on 19th and 20th December in London, an exhibition banned in Malaysia because it was described as too extreme.
The conference in the English capital discussed about different themes: sex hardwares, cybersex toys and humanoid robots. It was an opportunity to argue new opinions of students and researchers and show their inventions. Among the protagonists of that cyber symposium there was Dr. Kate Devlin who said: “I think robots could become our lovers in the future.”
In fact, at the exhibition it was said that robotic sex could be normal by 2050, becoming more addictive than ever. Robots can be programmed to satisfy the needs of men and women, and above all they could never say ‘no’ because of common headaches or other physical issues. Others commented that robots could be better than humans in a sexual relationship.
Comments derived also from a sexual therapist, Dr. Gurpreet Singh: “Who are we to judge people who want to have sex with robots? Let people enjoy sex robots – they will work in the same way couples introduce a toy into a sexual relationship. And if both parties are agreed, I see nothing wrong.”
Does this mean that there will be a total substitution of humans?
Dr. Singh does not agree with the total sexual use of humanoids in our lives because: “It takes on a whole different meaning if sex robots are used because of a fear of intimacy or because a person wants to be isolated. Then the addiction needs to be addressed.”
To this statement Dr. Kate Devlin responded: “Does love have to be reciprocated in order to be valid?” In this case, ethical and legal factors should be considered as well as the psychological elements Dr. Singh mentioned.
In fact, what would happen if sentimental robots appear in the world?
Answers have not emerged yet, but other results were showed about what humanoids could offer; for instance, they could work as a substitution of prostitutes. “They do not need to fake being excited during sex and this could enforce affective bonds with clients,” Dr. John Danaher, lecturer in business at ‘NUI Galway’ University, said.
By contrast, their costs could differ from the money requested by their next rivals. At the moment, humanoids cost about £6000, but the amount could decrease, as some researches disclosed.
Indeed, for whom is curious to try similar technologies as soon as possible, Kissenger (Kiss+Messenger) could be a solution. A PhD student in Computing at City University stated that it is a new mobile device for distance relationships designed by Emma Yann Zhang; it consists of a cover for smartphones with a rubbery pad where you can send kisses to your partner during video chats; the only thing is that it does not allow the use of the tongue.
She believes that humans intimate more today with A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) than in the past and this project could enforce this bond, but it does not explain if having relationships with robots is ethically acceptable.
Kissenger is able to send kisses similar to real ones, with the same labial pressure, thanks to a study of blood and heart pressure of people invited to some lab tests.
However, this is not the end of the project. Researches are continuing to surprise the public: the next aim of Kissenger is allowing the device to build the same scent of people we want to kiss.
Subsequently, it is noticeable that there has been a progress in cyber technologies, highlighting the wonderful capabilities of humans. Whether it could bring positive or negative outcome, we do not know yet. What we know for now is that the robotic era, usually seen only on TV screens, is coming to the real world, but this era will not end as soon as fictions.