img via jameswharris
Generally when I imagine uses for robots, it's in ways that would make my life easier. Like say robot maids, or robots that go to the DMV for you because sometimes you think you might murder someone there. I never really imagined robot prostitutes, because I (knock on wood) don't need one.
In a recent New Zealand research paper called
Robot, Men, and Sex Tourism, a group of sex-interested researchers imagine a world where sex tourism is dominated by robots, thus eliminating sexually transmitted diseases, sex slavery, and under-aged prostitution. In their paper, Ian Yeoman and Michelle Mars created an Amsterdam club called Yub-Yum (they may be geniuses, but nightclub namers they are NOT), where robot prostitutes to fulfill every desire and fetish are available for patrons, or as the researchers call them, "sexual gods and goddesses of different ethnicities, body shapes, ages, languages and sexual features." Sounds pretty appealing, eh?
But don't worry, this idea isn't just a sexy whimsical dream, there are practicalities to deal with as well:
Yub-yum would be staffed by androids and licensed by the council meaning it could be regulated and used to market the city as a sex tourism destination.
"Amsterdam's tourist industry is built on an image of sex and drugs. The council was worried that if the red light district were to close, it would have a detrimental effect on the city's brand and tourism industry."
While I hope that people will continue to use OBC as their first stop for finding booty, the idea of a clean, safe, friendly, and economically sound brothel is one that appeals to everyone!
[SMH]
