by Christophe Pettus
From time to time, guest reviewers will drop by the Linen Closet and share their
experiences and reviews with us. The following review is by Christophe Pettus,
owner/manager of the online adult store Blowfish (http://www.blowfish.com). In
the future, other guests will come by, have a beer, and fill us in on new toys,
and new techniques to use with our toys. Feel free to drop me a line with any
topic you would like to hear about or special item you would like to see a review
on. My email address is: products@cleansheets.com.
I look forward to hearing from you! On with our review...
-- Kris Hawes
Has there ever been any technology that has not been promptly put to use
for sexual purposes? Most likely not. Indeed, it's become a cliche that
the desire for smut has been driving much of the rapid expansion of the
Internet. It makes sense; how many people really need those cable
modems for stock quotes?
Still, just downloading images is hardly the ne plus ultra of sex
technology. High-tech porn delivery systems are great, but what about high
tech sex toys? Where are our Orgasmatrons?
The current crop of electrical play-toys are not quite to the level of the
tasp pleasure-weapon from Larry Niven's science fiction stories (which is
probably all for the best). But some very cool electrical toys do exist,
and are capable of producing "hands-free" orgasms, at least in some people,
some of the time.
These toys all have their roots in medical Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS) devices. TENS units were developed as a pain-relief
mechanism; the units send a small electrical current through the nerves
immediately below the skin, blocking their ability to report pain, and
stimulating the production of endorphins. These units are commonly used
for pain relief in post-surgical situations, especially for joint injuries.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before someone starting putting the
contacts for a TENS unit in places where they didn't belong. While the
sensations were interesting, TENS units don't put out much current, and
getting actual sexual sensations with them is a hit-or-miss affair. The
obvious solution was to design similar units, but specifically for sex.
And here we are. The units discussed here are from Folsom Electric Company
(FEC); Paradise Electro Stimulation (PES) makes comparable units.
All of the devices operate on the same principle; they produce
high-voltage, low-amperage alternating current, which is fed to the
attachments and thence through the body. When the current passes through
the muscles of the body, they contract; the contractions can be quite
enjoyable.
High-voltage sounds scary, but don't be scared. High voltages are only
dangerous when they (a) pass near the heart, or (b) are backed up by high
amperages as well. The equipment just doesn't generate enough
juice to be dangerous, unless current is passed directly across
the chest. How do you know if the current is going across the chest or
not? If there are no attachments being used above the waist, current won't
flow across the chest. Electricity doesn't take detours unless it has to;
the current will flow in a more-or-less straight line from one attachment
to another.
So, what are these attachments, and how do they work? Both the FEC and PES
lines come with a ton of different things that you plug into the power
source and then apply to yourself or your partner. The simplest item, and
the one that most people start with, is either a butt-plug or a vaginal
probe. In either case, the operation is similar: each has two sets of foil
contacts on it; when power is applied, current flows from one set of
contacts to the other, making the muscles contract. The sensations can be
very, very intense and pleasurable, almost like being fucked by a ghost.
Since the contractions aren't under conscious control, it feels much more
like sex than like masturbation.
A second popular attachment in the FEC line is the unfortunately-named
"catheter." In fact, it doesn't have much in common with a real catheter;
it's made of a soft, flexible conductive material, and goes a very short
way into the cock, just enough to make a contact. A butt-plug or cock-ring
forms the other end of the circuit, and the current flows between them. In
many people, this author included, this can produce an entirely hands-free
orgasm... even without an erection.
Although the solo-sex potential of these toys is very high, they can also
be used with a partner. Some possibilities include:
1. As an addition to coitus. For example, one or both partners can be
using the butt-plug as a bipolar device while being fucked, either by a
cock or by a dildo, or a man can use the cock-ring while being done in the
ass by either a cock or dildo... you can probably imagine the possibilities.
2. "Make a circuit with me." In this combination, each party uses an
attachment, and the circuit is completed by the fucking. For example, a
man and a woman can both use a butt-plug, and the circuit is then completed
via the woman's vagina and the man's cock. Obviously, this requires that
the man and the woman are not using barriers during intercourse, since that
would block the current.
3. The FEC line includes the Electro Prod, a sharp probe which can be used
as one end of the circuit. Electro Prod is a great toy with which to play
with someone else. In this scenario, only one partner is hooked up,
perhaps using a catheter, butt-plug or cock ring, with the other side of
the circuit being the Electro Prod. Using this, you can move the current
around through various points on the body, remembering to never go
above the waist.
Anytime you use these toys, a good water-based lube is important, so that
the toy inserts easily while still conducting electricity. Experiment
with different water-based lubes (I personally love Liquid Silk) until you
find one that works. And above all, have fun!
For more information about Folsom Electric's products, you can see their
web site at: http://www.folsomelectric.com/
Paradise Electro Stimulation maintains a web site at:
http://www.peselectro.com/
Blowfish also carries Folsom Electric Company equipment; the site also includes more information about FEC products in particular, and electrical
play in general.
