I am both spellbound and disturbed by Howard Reingold's essay, "Teledildonics." The theoretical concept of a computer system capable of turning sound into tactile sensations is fascinating. People could explore regions all over the world simply by slipping into cyberspace. The disturbing aspect of this essay manifests itself at the very beginning. Though the Internet is usually used for normal interaction between people, with a little technological know how we can now have sex with our own personal computer. Sexual contact with a computer is social deviance. How Wachspress, the hacker and inventor identified by Rheingold as responsible for this technological development, should be ashamed of himself for even conceptualizing such a taboo machine. I believe anyone justifying the use of this technology as a social function is a pathetic individual with little to no social skills or self respect.

Humans need to realize that their infatuation with instant gratification is appalling and disgusting. To seek sexual gratification from an inanimate object is pure perversion. Reingold has once again written an essay about cyberspace that seems a little socially taboo. Perhaps he spends a little too much time alone with his computer. I found this essay hard to read, but not because of the words and style Rheingold chooses to use. The essay is hard to read because of the uncomfortable imagery of a computer geek humping a PC. Just because people can socialize and date on the internet does not mean they should limit themselves to cyber lovers. There is no substitution for physical interaction amongst living creatures.

Rheingold, Howard. "Teledildonics." CyberReader. 2nd ed. Ed. Victor J. Vitanza. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1999. 202-208.