Cybersex, Continued

What the Future Holds

Peripherals that will allow us to manipulate the sex organs of a cyber lover already exist. For example, a new product called the Virtual Sex Machine will plug into your PC and allow a remote web partner to control stimulation. You can find out more about how it works in a RealVideo interview with its creator, Eric J. White. The female version of this product is still in the design stages, but no doubt these products will initiate a whole new era of computer-mediated interactions.

A generation is now growing up with cyberspace as the place of their first sexual experience. This will be where they develop their sexuality and their sexual personas. Cybersex can be sizzling hot, and with computers in people's bedrooms, a sexual revolution is surely in the making. What we consider "sex" is changing, requiring a complete overhaul of previous definitions.

The joys of cybersex
I wrote my book Virtual Spaces: Sex and the Cyber Citizen (Putnam-Berkley, 1997) to validate peoples' experiences. Many feel guilty or confused by their virtual love affairs. The email I've received from those who've read the book has made it clear to me that cybernauts appreciate knowing they are not alone in their urges. They're relieved to hear that their feelings of love and lust are not "weird" but normal. Cybersex is truly a phenomenon of its time, and it's here to stay.

Take our cybersex survey.
Talk about this article in the discussion forums.
Browse cybersex resources in the Web Index.

Cleo Odzer is the author of Virtual Spaces: Sex and the Cyber Citizen (Putnam-Berkley, 1997). She is an anthropologist who did her doctorate research studying prostitution in Thailand. Her background in human sexual behavior and her long-time sexually active existence as a cyber citizen combine to bring about an optimist view of the burgeoning Net culture.

view a printable version of this article