New Technology Holds Opportunities for the Adult Biz

Forward-looking marketers have long studied the latest product releases announced at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as a means of unlocking new opportunities and identifying emerging trends. The following highlights from this year’s CES could have some applicability to adult markets — it’s up to you to make them work:

Unlike many online applications, adult entertainment benefits tremendously from any technology that allows hands-free access. For example, eliminating the need for a mouse, or other physical pointing device, could be quite liberating for online porn consumers…

Whatever the resulting applications, CES provides a first-look at the possibilities.

Enter Tobii’s Gaze (www.tobii.com/gaze-interaction), which provides computer users with direct eye control and adaptive interfaces that make common tasks easier, faster and more intuitive.

According to the company, the Gaze features are general principles that are applicable to any software, interface or layer in your computer.

“Pointing out where your attention is at is fully automatic and natural; it’s just up to the user to decide when to activate a command or a click,” states the product’s website. “With Gaze interaction both mouse and mouse pointer becomes superfluous and once you get rid of the slow and cumbersome mouse, selecting and clicking becomes instant.”

Consider the power of icons that change context depending upon where onscreen you happen to be looking, or as Tobii notes, “in your web browser, just look at the URL, search field or web form and start typing. The text will be entered exactly where you want it to.”

Doubtless such control systems will hold much appeal for adult content consumers.

One telling example of the rapid speed with which consumer tech evolves is on the television front, where the previous push to 3D seems to have abated due to poor sales — but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything new in TVs; as they are getting bigger, sharper and smarter: with Internet connectivity, Google TV and Chrome integration and more ….

Organic LED (OLED) technology eliminates the need for backlit displays, delivering blacker blacks and more vibrant colors; while Sony’s new Crystal LED technology offers vastly superior performance in a thinscreen design; both of which point the way to better viewing experiences for consumers who will demand suitable content for these displays.

The integration of features such as Google TV also point to consumer desire to make the most of their technological investments; searching for things to do with their devices.

In the mobile space, smaller seems to be in fashion this year, with most laptop makers now offering next-generation “ultrabooks” for users who want more capability than that offered by Smartphones, but without the size and weight penalties associated with fuller- sized laptops — devices often intended to compete against the popular Macbook Air.

Clearly, consumers want sharper images in a smaller (but not too small) form factor. Perhaps the coolest mobile tech harbinger at CES 2012 to have adult applications is WowWee’s line of augmented-reality (AR) AppGear toys (designed for kids, ages 4-8).

According to the company, AppGear is an innovative line of free apps that seamlessly interact with collectible toys that cost $9.99-$19.99 each.

The toys are usable in the real world, but also serve as augmented-reality set markers.

For example, the company’s “Foam Fighters” are foam-based WWII fighter aircraft that can be tossed about a room — or physically attached to a Smart device, which will lay graphics and immersive game play around the toy. The demo for “Alien Jailbreak” (www.appgear.com/alienjailbreak.php) will give you a great idea of the process as well as the possibilities for this technology. AppGear is compatible with the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, and Android-powered devices.

For adult operators, the business model of selling a toy that can be used in the real world but brought into an infinite world of custom staging through downloadable apps may have some long term traction. Consider a device such as the RealTouch, which while offering upsells to videos that will “sync” with the action, could be further extended via AR technology that could “transform” the RealTouch into the user’s performer of choice — at least when viewed through an appropriate device.

Whatever the resulting applications, CES provides a first-look at the possibilities, and this year’s show was no exception, but only time will tell how the market embraces these forward-reaching technologies.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry

North Carolina House Bill 805 was enacted July 29, after the state legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto. The provisions that relate to the adult industry, imposing requirements for age verification, consent and content removal, are scheduled to become effective Dec. 1. Platforms have until then to update their policies and systems to comply with the new regulations.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia

So, you’ve got your eye on international growth. Smart move. No matter where adult-industry merchants operate, however, one requirement remains consistent: regulatory compliance. This isn’t just a legal checkbox — it’s a critical component of keeping payments flowing and business operations intact.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

How to Avoid Copyright Pitfalls When Using Music in Adult Content

When creating an adult video, bringing your vision to life often means assembling just the right ingredients — including the right music. However, adding music to adult content can raise complex legal and ethical issues.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know

In December 2024, I shared an update on the upcoming rollout of Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program, also known as VAMP. The final version went into effect in June, and enforcement will begin in October. With just a month to go, now is the time to review what’s changing and how to stay compliant.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser

With her fiery red hair and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices

The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants

For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

What the New SCOTUS Ruling Means for AV Laws and Free Speech

On June 27, 2025, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’ age verification law in the face of a constitutional challenge and setting a new precedent that bolsters similar laws around the country.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What You Need to Know Before Relocating Your Adult Business Abroad

Over the last several months, a noticeable trend has emerged: several of our U.S.-based merchants have decided to “pick up shop” and relocate to European countries. On the surface, this sounds idyllic. I imagine some of my favorite clients sipping coffee or wine at sidewalk cafés, embracing a slower pace of life.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
Show More