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We've had assistive devices around for some time now that arguable involve human/machine intercourse. Blow-up dolls, "massagers", etc. are easy examples, but there are also some quite sophisticated ones such as the Sybian. There is also quite a shocking line of products that involve electrical nerve stimulation (pardon the pun). All that is really missing from what I can tell is what gamers call the "AI", artificial intelligence, that gives realistic and responsive interaction to your behavior like a person would. That too is rapidly falling, as one researcher on the Scientific American podcast said a while back. The 26 September 2007 Science Talk entitled Who Do You Think You Are: Chatting With Bots, and the Sexuality Spectrum had psychologist Robert Epstein talking about being fooled into having an internet relationship with a Chatterbot--a computer program designed to make you think you're communicating with a human. This is ironic, because Dr. Epstein is a leading researcher in this field. It was a fascinating discussion for anyone interested in computer programing, AI, human psychology, etc.

Ultimately, though, I think doing this will only inevitably lead to guys being rejected by their machines and getting the line "not now, I've got a headache". But seriously, this could have serious, deleterious consequences for humanity if people abuse it, do nothing but that all day, or retards their ability to develop real relationships with real people. On the other hand, as Will pointed out, it could end prostitution, allow people to safely and harmlessly express urges that currently lead people into dangerous and destructive situations--like child molesters, rapists and the like and may be used to turn them away from these sadistic tendencies (especially by lifting over-self repression which prevents them from finding acceptable outlets and relationships).

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