Intimate Sensory Technology in Long Distance Relationships: A Thesis Study in the Sensescape of Teledildonics
Authors
Westh, Jacob Øhrgaard ; Steensig, Anna Lilja
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2010
Submitted on
2010-06-30
Pages
78
Abstract
Denne rapport undersøger, hvordan vores sansemæssige omgivelser ("sensescapes") og kulturelle kontekster påvirker udvikling og brug af ny teknologi på tværs af nationale grænser, med særligt fokus på teledildonik. Teledildonik dækker over internetforbundne, fjernstyrede seksuelle enheder. Vi ser på, hvordan forskellige involverede grupper opfatter og bruger disse enheder i dag, især i langdistanceforhold. Formålet er at identificere aktuelle udfordringer og hvordan folk håndterer dem, samt at vise, hvordan dette former den sociotekniske forestillingsverden (altså fælles idéer om, hvad teknologien kan blive til). Undersøgelsen bygger på empiriske data fra antropologisk feltarbejde, og vi beskriver vores metode og dataindsamling for at give læseren indblik i forskningsprocessen. Vi belyser bekymringer og praktiske problemer, som brugere af We-Vibe-enheder oplever, og diskuterer, hvordan disse kan påvirke fremtidig udvikling. Vi konkluderer, at deltagerne overvejende ser teledildonik som almindeligt sexlegetøj og er bekymrede for, om teknologien vil supplere eller erstatte fysisk seksuel intimitet.
This report explores how our sensory environments ("sensescapes") and cultural contexts influence the development and use of new technologies across national borders, with a focus on teledildonics. Teledildonics refers to internet-connected, remote-controlled sexual devices. We examine how different groups of people involved perceive and currently use these devices, especially in long-distance relationships. Our aim is to identify present-day challenges and how people address them, and to show how these responses shape the sociotechnical imaginary (that is, shared ideas about what this technology could become). The study is based on empirical data from anthropological fieldwork, and we describe our methods and data collection to give readers a clear view of the research process. We highlight concerns and practical issues reported by users of We-Vibe devices and discuss how these may influence future developments. We conclude that participants tend to view teledildonics as ordinary sex toys and that they are concerned about whether such technology will supplement or replace in-person sexual intimacy.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
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