On November 10, 2017, I presented a talk entitled “Adventures in Sex/Tech!” at Harvard Sex Week. Here you’ll find my slides and lots of additional resources.

This talk is a modified version of the talk I gave at the Geeky Kink Event in 2016, with updated info on crowdfunded sex toys and other tweaks for the Sex Week audience.

• Talk Slides
• References and Resources
• Additional Information about my work and experiences as a sex-positive entrepreneur
• Questions & Answers

Talk Slides

References and Resources

Crowdfunded Sex Toys

Due to lack of time, I couldn’t cover all of my material on crowdfunded sex toys. If you’re interested in a broader survey, here’s my updated slide deck with links below:

• The kGoal (for people with vaginas) and kGoal Boost (for people with penises) are by MinnaLife (@Minna_Life). You can also check out the kGoal Kickstarter page and the kGoal Boost Kickstarter page.
• The Eva is by Dame Products (@DameProducts); it was funded via IndieGoGo.
• The Autoblow 2 was funded via IndieGoGo; the Autoblow 2+ is now available.
• HUM (@humvibrator) was funded on IndieGoGo and is now available for purchase here.
• The Crescendo by MysteryVibe (@MysteryVibe) was funded via Born.com.
• The Lioness Vibrator by Lioness (@LionessHealth) was funded on IndieGoGo and is now available for purchase.
• The Fin is the second vibrator created by Dame Products (@DameProducts); it was the first sex toy funded on Kickstarter and is now available for purchase.
• The Venus vibrator by TwoEmotion (@TwoEmotion) was funded on IndieGoGo in January 2017. Note: As of Nov 9, 2017, the TwoEmotion website appears to be down.
• Funkit Toys are small-batch, gender-neutral, body-safe sex toys made from 3D-printed molds. The company has a Patreon and toys are also available for purchase directly.

The Sex Toy Patent Troll

• The sex toy patent troll section is adapted from Vera Ranieri’s fantastic piece, “Stupid Patent of the Month: Trolls Go After Sex Toy Manufacturers”, regarding US Patent 6,368,268.
• This patent was filed on August 17, 1998, and granted on April 9, 2002; according to this patent term calculator, the patent will expire on August 17, 2018. Mark your calendar!

3D Printing

• If you want to design your toy (or mold) programmatically, I recommend OpenSCAD (free and open-source, available for Linux/Unix, Windows, & Mac). Thanks to Mr. O, you can find more information and sample code for designing sex toys in OpenSCAD on this blog at “Better Sex Through Trigonometry.”
• SculptGL by Stéphane Ginier is an open-source, web-based application that lets you do organic modeling from the browser.
• If you want to 3D print your mold and then cast from that, I recommend the video “Silicone Sex Toys with 3D Printing – Part 1” by SexShop3D.
• If you want to try 3D printing directly in silicone, you’ll need a paste extruder. Watch “Silicone Sex Toys with 3D Printing – Part 2″ by SexShop3D for more info.

Silicone

• Jimmie P. Rodgers and I (in cosplay) gave a one-hour intro to casting and moldmaking with a focus on working with silicone in January 2015. The slides and video are available on this blog at “Fun with Silicone.”
• I use platinum-cure silicones from Smooth-On, which I buy from Reynolds Advanced Materials. I’ve written more about my materials in “Working with Silicone for DIY Sex Toys.” Yes, you can ask Reynolds Advanced Materials about making sex toys!

Wrap-Up & Additional Information About My Work

• During this talk, I demonstrated the latest version of The Hammer (Burning Man 2013 Edition), which was also featured in Dig Boston. I gave a tech talk at Arse Elektronika 2012 about the original Hammer, which Cracked.com named the #1 geekiest sex toy of all time.
• I co-organize a Boston-area meetup group for sex/kink-positive makers and crafters called teasecraft. We have an email list, or you can find us on FetLife (free membership required).
• I spend most of my time these days on launching a new nonprofit, the Effing Foundation for Sex-Positivity. Our mission is to reduce sexual shame by fostering sex-positive art and education. The best way to keep up with us is to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter at http://effing.org/.

Questions & Answers

I’ll update this section after the talk.