Note: This post originally appeared on buttplug.io.

I've been digitally pontificating about sex and technology since 2004. During that time, I've noticed a recurring call for a unified protocol for controlling sex tech hardware. This would give developer a generic stream of data that could define certain properties of a playback or communication situation.

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2016 is looking to be a another litigious year for sex toys. The '268 patent case is still going, and now Standard Innovations, the company behind the We-Vibe, is in trouble. Class action lawsuit level trouble.

After a presentation by security researchers at DefCon, it was found that the WeVibe control app had been sending back device usage information to the parent company, without consent from users. This has apparently pissed off enough users to warrant a lawsuit.

It will be interesting to see where this leads in terms of product quality testing. I've been working on reversing more devices lately, including the Vibease, the Minna KGoal, and the We-Vibe, and there's wildly varying levels of security between all of them (and, as usual, most of my findings are in our github repos. However, while most of my work is just for fun, a successful lawsuit could really make people start paying attention.

Security researchers are starting to take notice too. The Internet of Dongs Initiative is a group of security researchers who will be auditing toys and helping sex toy companies secure their devices and communications properly, so everyone can play safely. Look for more info on them soon!

Issue 1 of Future Sex is now available on the Internet Archive

That's it! We did it! All issues of Future Sex are now scanned and up on the Internet Archive!

Issue 1 features an article on VR Sex (and remember, this was 1992, so that was actually a rare thing then), some of the usual wacked out sci-fi erotica, and some surprisingly Penthouse Letters-y photo layouts.

All currently scanned issues of Future Sex can be found at the Metafetish Future Sex Archive Project Index

The Photonic Induction Youtube Channel (a fantastic electrical engineering channel, highly recommend watching more of their stuff) decided to see what would happen if you throw a whole bunch of volts through a vibrator. Like a whole bunch.

Last weekend at Hackers On Planet Earth (HOPE) XI, Kit Stubbs of the Effing Foundation gave a talk on DIY Sex Toys and teledildonics. A recording is now available for viewing. You'll need to wind 2 hours 30 minutes into the stream.

Slides and references are also available on their website.