The world is in motion and unexpected changes are around every corner. You never know what your reality will look like tomorrow, as has become especially evident recently. Nothing is as we expected it to be and we have all had to learn to adapt to new circumstances, rules and realities. However, while our situations and circumstances may change, our needs and desires do not.
Measures like social distancing force us to find creative solutions for situations that are unfamiliar to us. Now more than ever, we suddenly have become aware of how important our basic needs and desires are as human beings and we have to find new ways of satisfying them. Feeling connected to, and intimate with, other people is not just a desire, but also a need. Connections to others are what make us human. Intimacy has always been important, but in a time when it is much more difficult to achieve, many are starting to realize just how valuable it is to be intimate with another person.
Rather than let distance be the enemy of sexual relationships and intimacy, we should allow it to create space for different or new opportunities.
Yet intimacy — even sexual intimacy — does not necessarily mean being physically close to someone. As physical distancing has become the norm, this is especially important to realize. Obviously, nothing can replace the wonderful sensation of physically touching another human being, but when that is temporarily not possible, there are many solutions that we as an industry are able to provide.
The impact of recent times on our industry as a whole is thankfully limited in comparison to other industries, and we are in a unique position where we can help people connect and stay connected. Ever-evolving technology has led to a wide array of advanced sex toys that are excellent tools helping to bridge distances, in this case literally, so relationships and intimacy can flourish no matter the circumstances. Of course, remote-controlled toys have been around for a long time and are widely available everywhere. New toys that can be operated from a distance are produced every day.
Although toys with a limited-range remote control are still prevalent in the industry, technology has greatly expanded the possibilities of the concept of remote-controlled toys, which has led to the creation of many different kinds of high-tech sex toys. The introduction of smartphone apps as a way to control sex toys has opened up a whole new world of creativity, connection and opportunity. Everything is possible. Creating your own vibration patterns? Easy. Connecting your toy to sex videos online? No problem. Controlling your partner’s sex toy from halfway across the world? Definitely.
This technology has been a practical tool for many since its creation, but it has probably never been more relevant than at this particular time. To connect with your partner or lover and to be able to continue the sexual relationship you have with them is invaluable. Being able to feel the rhythm of your lover’s movements on your own body through an interactive sex toy helps nurture that close connection to each other. Virtual reality is even more promising in this case, as it could potentially bring lovers even closer. What if you could feel your partner’s touch via a virtual reality bodysuit?
What if you could see, talk to, and pleasure your partner in a 3D world? Virtual reality began gaining a foothold in the industry some time ago, but even though virtual reality sex toys already offer fantastic possibilities, this is just the beginning. There is still so much that this technology can bring to the table in terms of physical, emotional and sexual connection. It is exciting to think about where this could lead and what the future might hold for virtual reality sex toys.
To many people, technology and intimacy might seem like two concepts that do not fit well together, but as we already know, they can perfectly enhance each other. Although teledildonics can never replace real-life physical contact between two humans, it can help our industry take the next step into the future. The open-minded and progressive attitude that is prevalent in this industry is the perfect breeding ground for the development of virtual reality and teledildonics in general and the creation of even more advanced and interactive high-tech sex toys.
Rather than let distance be the enemy of sexual relationships and intimacy, we should allow it to create space for different or new opportunities. New technologies are constantly in development and will keep evolving in the coming years. Times are strange right now, but let’s use this opportunity to learn, create and improve technologies, so we can keep offering our customers the best tools to stay connected and nurture intimacy, especially in times when this is not as easy as it used to be.
Eric Idema is the CEO of EDC Wholesale, an international distribution center.
