In a world of wearable technology and increasingly smart sex gadgets, it was only a matter of time before we saw wearable tech smart sex toys.Sex-tech company OhMiBod unveiled the blueMotion, a “wearable massager that uses Bluetooth technology” at CES, and it’s at least a new take on wireless personal tech (I’m finding it difficult to truly call this thing “wearable tech”) than the zillion fitness monitors we’ve seen.Essentially, blueMotion is a little bullet-like vibrator—sorry, “massager”—that you stick down your pants and control via Bluetooth over the OhMiBod smartphone app. It’s set to be available to buy in March.Now, I’m usually very skeptical of “innovations” that are just like existing products but with Bluetooth, but there’s definitely a gap in the market for connected sex toys. We’ve already seen Vibease’s crowdfunded smart vibrator, which syncs to audio erotica, but on the whole commercial offerings are sparse.Obviously, the main selling point of this kind of toy is the remote functionality, and the potential that offers for couples in long-distance relationships to get jiggy together. Although the idea of teledildonics has been around a long time, most of the hardware out there still seems pretty scary, and there are limited options to take you beyond sexting.For long-distance lovers looking to bond over the device, however, there’s one little snag with it right now: it only works within Bluetooth range of the smartphone (about ten metres). You can't help but wonder, why doesn’t your partner just, um, get right in there? The company told Mashable it does hope to bring long-distance functionality to the app by summer.Meanwhile, there are nevertheless a few interesting possibilities with this particular device, even used alone. Apart from the hands-free aspect, the interaction with the app looks pretty smooth. It apparently makes use of the accelerometer, volume controls, and touch screen, which is a nice change to remote control-type apps that just essentially turn your smartphone into an on/off button.The toy boasts the option of saving a favourite vibration pattern so in the future you can just lay back and let it do its thing, and you can play around with different speeds and strengths by tapping and waving your phone around. Of the “wave” function, the company explains: “Using the phones built-in accelerometer, simply wave the phone from side to side or use it as a "gas" pedal to drive stronger and steadier vibrations. When you find a vibration pattern that works for you, simply "lock" it in!”There’s clearly a lot of fun to be had with this, though perhaps more in the sense of immature giggles than steamy sexy time.Then there’s the “record” function, and while the product description makes it sound like the vibrator itself has some kind of microphone—“blueMotion can even record ambient sound up to 60 seconds”—I’m guessing (and hoping) that it’s actually the smartphone that does this. It’s one step on from OhMiBod’s original iPhone vibrator, in that it lets you or your partner record a little message to turn into a vibration pattern. Extra points if you do it with a straight face.On the whole, it's a valiant attempt to bring tech into the bedroom in a positive way, and a step in the right direction of actually useful sex toy innovation. Though I can’t help but think of what happens when someone hacks your smartphone.
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