The virtual reality platform AltspaceVR will soon host the world’s first VR wedding, Future of Sex contributor Alice Bonasio recently revealed on UploadVR. With Internet-connected sex toys—also known as teledildonics—this newly-wed couple could technically celebrate their honeymoon in VR as well.
The upcoming ceremony presents a favorable view of romantic relationships and virtual reality, which brings to mind the Black Mirror episode, “San Junipero.” In it, two women fall in love and start a complicated relationship. But the degree of complication is beyond our current comprehension.
Not only do they meet in virtual reality, but this particular VR world was set up for those who have died, or are preparing to die, and wish to upload their consciousnesses into the system.
Breaking away from the typical Black Mirror plotline, this episode remained relatively positive. It had a combination of all good stories: love, sex, and a little of bit of a conflict. Other than that, however, it was a peaceful—albeit virtual—universe. And while I certainly hope our own future might provide similar results, we must think ahead about how to build a positive sexual future enhanced by technology, one that’s not vulnerable to or supports harmful and criminal activities.
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Quantum encryption
As for the security of one’s devices, this is an ongoing issue that still befuddles engineers and users alike. Many believed that quantum computing might hold the answer to creating unhackable devices, given the fact that these computers rely on certain principles within quantum physics, such as Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Unfortunately, this has since been proven incorrect.
Others are now beginning to apply other methods of quantum mechanics to address whatever errors are made in a quantum computer. For example, researchers have begun creating quantum teleportation systems which rely on the entangling of photons. As Wired notes in regards to this method, “Parties could encode a key into a pair of entangled photons and then each take one. An enemy that intercepted or stole one of the photons would be unable to replace it because the new photon would not be entangled.”
Once the parties realize that the properties of each measured photon no longer correlate, they’ll know they’ve been breached and act accordingly. This would ensure the security of each user’s device, but of course, like any great technology, a device’s encryption system is only as secure as those running it.
No matter what we do to address the possibilities of being hacked, whether we’re talking about our smartphones or Internet-connected sex toys, we cannot solely rely on even more advanced technologies, such as quantum encryption. With access to such advanced technologies, we must equally be smart users as well.
Be a smart netizen
In the end, the best way of staying secure is by being a smart digital citizen. Use passphrases instead of passwords; never write down login details or share your personal devices with others you don’t know; and never do something you might regret if, perchance, you were hacked.
We are certainly entering a brave new (and sexy) world. The future of sexual abundance is closely upon us, and everyone is welcome to the ride. And just like having sex here in the offline world, when you boot up and jack in, be smart and be safe.
Source: Future of Sex