Sex machine

History and use

Built in 1900, the first known sex machine was a self-operated device that sprayed milk into the vagina to simulate ejaculation.

The vibrator was originally invented for the treatment of hysteria in Victorian women through medical orgasm induced by clitoral massage. These early mechanical devices were much larger and more powerful than modern vibrators; they were first used by physicians and became popular in bath houses in Europe and the US toward the beginning of the 20th century. More compact, electrically powered versions later briefly appeared as health aids in department store catalogs.

Among recent developments in teledildonics are app-controlled thrusting machines designed for remote use, produced by manufacturers such as Lovense. Modern automated erotic stimulation devices differ from vibrators because they penetrate as well as throb. These devices are sometimes used as part of autoerotic or partnered bondage play. Teledildonics combines the use of various sex machines and a web interface, controlled remotely by a partner. Modern sex machines on the market include vacuum pumps, instruments that deliver calibrated electrical shocks to the nipples and genitals, and life-size inflatable male and female dolls with penetrable and vibrating orifices.

The conference Arse Elektronika regularly features demonstrations of sex machines and academic debates about these devices.

Risk of injury

In 2009, a woman from Maryland required a medical evacuation after the blade of a homemade sex machine based on a saber saw cut through the plastic dildo and caused severe vaginal injuries.

Examples

• Fuckzilla (by kink.com): a sex machine featuring a dildo and a licking device (2007)
• Nekropneum Fuckenbrust Neckhammer 40k: a sex machine by the group monochrom that was featured at NRW-Forum Düsseldorf in March 2019

In popular culture

In Episode 2/20 of Boston Legal, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," Shirley Schmitt represents a client whose Victorian erotica collection includes a "hysteria machine" (a steam-powered, piston-operated dildo) used by Victorian doctors to help women deal with their sexual needs during the Victorian Age.

In the 2008 film Burn After Reading, US Treasury agent Harry Pfarrer builds a pedal-powered "dildo chair". The pornographic website Fucking Machines has been featured in the mainstream press as a source of information and depictions of uses.

In 2011, J. Michael Bailey provided a forum for a live demonstration of a sex machine device to his class at Northwestern University, which led to international press coverage, questions about appropriate college coursework, and questions about academic freedom vis-a-vis tenure.

References

References

1. Leung, Isaac (2009). The Cultural Production of Sex Machines and the Contemporary Technosexual Practices. In [[Johannes Grenzfurthner. Grenzfurthner, J.]] et al., eds. ''Do androids sleep with electric sheep? Critical perspectives on sexuality and pornography in science and social fiction.'' [[RE/SEARCH]], {{ISBN. 978-1-889307-23-7
2. Farrell, Lauralee (2007). Dream Machine. In ''The Best American Erotica 2007'', p. 207 ff., [[Susie Bright]], ed. Simon and Schuster, {{ISBN. 978-0-7432-8962-7
3. link. (2011-06-29 [[Salon.com]])
4. Arnott, Stephen (2010). ''Sex: A User's Guide.'' Random House Digital, Inc., {{ISBN. 978-0-440-33437-8
5. (February 2022). "Jillsaw".
6. Browne, Ray Broadus (1982). ''Objects of special devotion: fetishism in popular culture'', p. 49 Popular Press, {{ISBN. 978-0-87972-191-6
7. Cruz, Ariane. (2016). "The Color of Kink: Black Women, BDSM, and Pornography". NYU Press.
8. Maines, Rachel. (1999). "The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction". Johns Hopkins University Press.
9. (2 June 2025). "Internet-enabled orgasms: How teledildonics are changing the way we have sex".
10. Blue, Violet (2006). ''The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Sex Toys.'' Cleis Press, {{ISBN. 978-1-57344-254-1, chapter 6: Teledildonics toys: online sex for two
11. Stabley, Matthew (March 11, 2009). [http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Woman-Severely-Injured-in-Sex-ToyPower-Tool-Encounter.html Woman Injured in Power Tool Sex Toy Encounter.] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-08-08 ''[[NBC Washington]]'')
12. (2007-10-06). "So Who Wants to F**k a Robot?".
13. Jan Petter. "Warum es in Düsseldorf jetzt einen Darkroom voller Sexroboter gibt".
14. Alexandra Wehrmann. (8 March 2019). "Mensch und Maschine: Digitalfestival zum Thema Robotik im NRW-Forum".
15. Westdeutsche Zeitung. (15 March 2019). "Meta Marathon Düsseldorf: Fünf Tipps". Westdeutsche Zeitung.
16. Leahy, Janet & Broch, Lawrence. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," Boston Legal, Episode 2/20. First aired March 26, 2006.
17. Gilbey, Ryan (2008). That Superior Feeling: The Coen Brothers' Espionage Comedy-Is an Exercise in Smugness. ''[[New Statesman]]'', Volume 21, p. 45
18. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/magazine/29kink.t.html "A Disciplined Business"] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-10-14 by Jon Mooallem, ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'', April 29, 2007.)
19. Clark, Tracy. (2011-03-03). "The "live sex show" professor speaks". Salon.com.
20. [http://gawker.com/5774501/americas-greatest-university-demonstrates-fucksaw-for-captivated-students Gawker] {{webarchive. link. (2015-01-23 , March 3, 2011.)