Teledildonics

This week’s word is teledildonic.

teledildonic (adj) of or characterized by wireless technology that allows partners to effect sexual intimacy remotely with the use of computer-chipped sex toys; teledildonics (n) the field of remote-controlled sex toys.

Kelly’s dom was quarantined 10 miles away in the midst of a citywide shutdown, but thanks to their teledildonic vibrator, he was able to remotely—and safely—push her to orgasm over and over again.

It sounds like an interloper from the realm of science fiction, but our sex word of the week is very real—and it has taken on renewed relevance in this brave new world of quarantine.

Teledildonics refers to the technology used to stimulate a partner via wirelessly connected toys. The tactile sensations of your cyber-trysts are communicated through well-placed vibrations; often, this means employing a clitoral or prostate stimulator on a partner who’s not in the room with you. The concept isn’t mainstream yet, but it already has special meaning in long-distance relationships, the disabled community and the camming industry.

The term dates back to the 1990s, when two culture-shifting events were in progress: The World Wide Web was picking up steam, and the HIV/AIDS panic had people exploring the novel idea of “sex without secretions.” Tech theorist Howard Rheingold sought to describe sex toys that users could control across vast distances through a telecom network—and thanks to him, teledildonics entered the lexicon.

Since then the term has fallen out of regular use, but the technology has become commonplace in the sex-toy world. To cite just two examples, the Moxie vibrator by We-Vibe can work via remote control, while the Lush 2 by Lovense uses a Bluetooth-enabled app.

Thanks to this reemerging technology, we may come out of our shelter-in-place existence with a whole new take on what being connected means.