iSex HOW PORNOGRAPHY HAS REVOLUTIONISED TECHNOLOGY

       By Matilda Battersby, Jack Riley and Dina Rickman
       Super 8 projectors
       The Super 8 projector rose to popularity due in
       part to the large amount of pornographic content which was quickly available for it. The
       Super 8 camera was a favourite for fraternity
       house "home movies", although it was a drawback that the film had to be developed.
       Released in 1965 by Kodak, the film came in
       plastic cartridges containing plenty of potential on their 15 metres of film. But the
       projector, a temperamental contraption,would sometimes disappoint anxious viewers
       by refusing to work.
       Polaroid
       A need for instant satisfaction prompted the invention of the Polaroid camera. You get to take delightfully rude images of your nearest and dearest in the comfort of your own home and you don't have to wait weeks before you can reap the benefits.Despite the frantic hand flapping that comes with developing a Polaroid negative, you get to see the result in less than a minute. Plus, you get to avoid the embarrassing trip to SnappySnaps to see the disapproving shop assistant.
       VoIP
       Voice over Internet Protocol was developed to feed the porn market after
       frustrated internet users bemoaned the lack of "dirty talk" online. VoIP basically
       allows you to use internet-based sex phone lines (a bit like Skype, but filthier)and allows you to view whatever you like
       while you chat. What could be simpler?And, you don't even need to hold a phone
       to your ear as you can use an ear piece or
       web cammike to speak to your "date".
       VHS
       The war of video formats began in 1975 when Sony launched the Betamax system, closely followed in 1976 by JVC's VHS. Despite the technical superiority of the Betamax system, VHS won the battle for customers as it was easier for amateur pornographers to produce their own content with VHS, and porn was readily available in the VHS format. Although porn helped VHS to dominate over Betamax, the relationship was reciprocal, with VHS offering the pornography industry a system of distribution which allowed it to insinuate itself into the mainstream. The rival Betamax tapes were not long enough to record a film, at only 60 minutes, and adult content was not available on Betamax.
       DVD players
       The DVD player has not only increased the availability of pornography beyond VHS, but
       allowed it to be viewed in a more accessible format. Fans of risque films could quickly flick to
       their favoured scenes or pause to view particularly agreeable moments in high definition. The advent of the DVD player has seen
       history repeating itself, with the VHS vs Betamax
       war being channelled into the fight between HD
       DVD and Sony's Blu-ray. Sony appear to be
       suffering due to the company's continued reluctance to support the adult films, with Blu-ray
       not releasing its first adult film until 2007.
       Pay-per-view cable or satellite
       The pay-per-view format on satellite and cable helped pornography to thrust itself into the mainstream. Instead of videos only being available to those brave enough to rent racy material face to face, one could order porn from the TV at home,or through premium services within hotels. The ubiquity of pornography available in the home led to Jacqui Smith's husband, a British politician,recently getting in trouble for billing the taxpayer for two porn films he bought on pay-per-view, via his wife's expenses.
       The internet
       For many, the internet is synonymous with
       pornography. While statistics on usage are difficult to come across given the shady legal status of the industry,2007 estimates claimed that
       the industry was worth $2.84 billion a year, with
       89% of pornography produced in the US. It's difficult to ascertain precisely how much of an influence salacious material had on the rise of the
       world wide web, but it's generally acknowledged that which such a sizeable chunk of internet traffic
       dedicated to the transmission and reception of pornography we may not have seen the 100% year
       on year growth of the internet witnessed from the
       mid-'90s to the early noughties.
       Interactive television
       Have you seen that little red button on some TV remotes? Well, the interactivity that button supplies you with for mainstream news and satellite sports channels was reportedly developed for the porn industry.It was intended to allow users to home in on the most interesting actors/actresses/activities available. Apparently the TV remote control element means you can bypasses the embarrassment of having to sign up and pay-to-view via a call centre.
       The video phone
       Not only have video phones allowed
       customers to view downloaded pornography whenever and wherever they
       choose, they have also given the public a constant instrument to film with, allowing
       amateurs to immortalise their tawdry
       dalliances without the hassle of any forward planning. This benefit has been particularly embraced by teenagers, and has allowed their peers to share amorous moments with one another electronically,
       leading to the "sexting" craze, which has been reported in Australia, New Zealand,
       the US and the UK.
       Camcorder
       Electrical outlets in the 1990s saw sales boosted by the libidos of people wanting to make their own adult movies using snappy little camcorders - a far cry from the hefty film cameras of old. With women's magazines lambasting the home-made blue movie as a way to spice up a long-term romance, young and old began to get a bit creative. Just don't forget which tape is which and record Coronation Street over it.