An Actroid manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd.

Robot fetishism (also ASFR or technosexuality) is a fetishistic attraction to humanoid or non-humanoid robots; also to people acting like robots or people dressed in robot costumes. A less common fantasy involves transformation into a robot. In these ways it is similar to statuephilia, which involves attraction to or transformation into statues or mannequins.^[1] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 1981 KB) en: The robot for events which KOKORO, Inc. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 1981 KB) en: The robot for events which KOKORO, Inc. ... Actroid ReplieeQ1-expo at Expo 2005 in Aichi, with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguro An Actroid is a lifelike humanoid robot developed by Osaka University and manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd. ... A fetish (from French fétiche; from Portuguese feitiço; from Latin facticius, artificial and facere, to make) is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular a man-made object that has power over others. ... My name is tyler bonin. ... In the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, Roboticization is a name used to describe the process that the evil Dr. Robotnik uses to transform the anthropomorphic animals of Mobius into robotic slaves. ... A set of erotic statues. ... A wooden mannequin For other uses, see Mannequin (disambiguation). ...

Robot fetishism can be viewed as a form of erotic anthropomorphism.^[1] When transformation or roleplaying is involved it can be thought of as a form of erotic objectification.^[1][2] An anthropomorphic character; a cat ascribed human characteristics. ... Sexual objectification is, in some circumstances, the fetishistic act of regarding a person as an object for erotic purposes. ...

A.S.F.R.

By its enthusiasts, robot fetishism is more commonly referred to by the initials ASFR. This acronym stems from the now defunct newsgroup alt.sex.fetish.robots. Many devotees of this fetish refer to themselves as technosexual^[2][3], or as "ASFRians".^[1] ASFR can be divided into two distinct but sometimes overlapping types of fantasies.^[4][3][2] A newsgroup is a repository usually within the Usenet system, for messages posted from many users at different locations. ... Technosexual (a portmanteau word combining technological and metrosexual), previously used to refer to an individual with a sexual attraction to machinery, is a term recently redefined to describe a person (usually a male) with a strong aesthetic sense and a love of gadgets. ...

The first of these is simply a desire to have a ready-made android partner. This partner can be desired for sex, companionship, or any combination of the two. The main distinguishing feature of this fantasy is that the android is a completely artificial construct, manufactured solely to fulfil the wishes of its owner. This type of fantasy or situation is referred to as built.^[3][1][5] The android Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behavior. ...

The second type of fantasy prevalent within ASFR is referred to as transformation. This involves a human who has been either willingly or unwillingly turned into an android. That person can be either oneself or one's partner, or both. It is usually the process of transformation (through whatever means it is achieved) that is the focus of this fantasy.^[3][1][5]

Many people in the ASFR community prefer either one or the other.^[3][5][2] In some cases this preference is very strong, and people can be as equally repelled by one type as they are attracted to the other. In other cases, there is as much appreciation for built as there is for transformation.^[4] A recent informal survey of ASFR community members found that three fifths prefer built while the remainder prefer transformation or some combination of both.^[6]

An example of ASFR art.

The aspects of this fetish that are most appreciated by members of the ASFR community are greatly varied. For some, things like robotic appearance, motion, or sound are important for arousal.^[2] For others, these are not, and a completely life-like android that appears to be human is desired.^[4] This holds true for other aspects, such as sentience or self-awareness. Often, the ability of the android to remove parts of its skin or other bodily appendages in order to reveal its circuitry are quite pleasing to some, but distasteful to others.^[4] There is a further divide between those who prefer an android to appear human-like and those who would prefer a more mechanical looking robot, i.e. made of metal. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 408 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (698 × 1024 pixel, file size: 460 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Nova, an example of ASFR art by the artist Kishin. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 408 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (698 × 1024 pixel, file size: 460 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Nova, an example of ASFR art by the artist Kishin. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Self-consciousness. ...

As realistic androids and humanoid robots do not currently exist in a form readily available to the consumer^[2], this fetish can only be acted upon in a limited number of ways. Primarily this is done through fantasy, involving either self stimulation or sexual roleplaying with a partner.^[4] ASFR art is therefore important to aid in the reinforcement of imagination.^[1] Mulher sentada de coxas abertas (Woman Sitting With Open Ties), 1916 drawing by Gustav Klimt Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation, especially of ones own genitals and often to the point of orgasm, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for sexual intercourse), by use of... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Art with ASFR content includes but is not limited to science fiction movies, television shows, novels, short stories, illustrations, manipulated photographs, songs and even television commercials.^[7] Such works are sought after by technosexuals since economically viable androids are not yet available. Realistic sex dolls such as the RealDoll remain the only concrete way to fully explore this fetish. However, recent developments in robotics and artificial intelligence, such as those seen in the Actroid or EveR-1 can only lead to the production of more advanced synthetic partners.^[1][2] Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Digital image editing is the process of altering digital images, whether they be digital photographs or other types of digitally represented images. ... A high end sex doll: A RealDoll by Abyss Creations A sex doll (also love doll) is a type of sex toy, imitating a human body for simulated sexual acts. ... A RealDoll with face #11 The RealDoll is a life-size sex doll (also considered a mannequin) manufactured by Abyss Creations in San Marcos, California, and sold worldwide. ... Hondas humanoid robot, ASIMO The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) was first used by John McCarthy who used it to mean the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.[1] It can also refer to intelligence as exhibited by an artificial (man-made, non-natural, manufactured) entity. ... Actroid ReplieeQ1-expo at Expo 2005 in Aichi, with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguro An Actroid is a lifelike humanoid robot developed by Osaka University and manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd. ... EveR-1 (Korean: 에버원; Hangeul: ebeoweon) is South Koreas first functional female android developed by a team of South Korean scientists from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) headed by Baeg Moon-hong (백문홍) and unveiled to the public at Kyoyuk MunHwa HoeKwan in Seoul on May 4, 2006. ...

It is also worth noting that some ASFRians do not wish to use synthetic partners at all, and instead would prefer human partners to participate in forms of fantasy play.^[4]

Robot fetishism in popular culture

Woman dressed as a Sorayama style robot.

References to this fetish can be seen in movies, television, music and magazines. These range from the subtle to the obvious. Robots and androids can be portrayed as attractive or sexy for no reason relevant to plot or background, or they can be specific objects of desire because of their artificiality. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (951x1992, 190 KB)Girl dessed as Hajime Sorayamas Sexy Robot at BayCon 2003. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (951x1992, 190 KB)Girl dessed as Hajime Sorayamas Sexy Robot at BayCon 2003. ... Hajime Sorayama (空山 基 Sorayama Hajime) is a famous Japanese illustrator. ...

• The 1987 science fiction film Cherry 2000 is about a man whose robotic love interest breaks beyond repair, after which he goes on a search for a replacement.
• The song "Electric Barbarella" (from Duran Duran's 1997 album Medazzaland) focuses unambiguously on the topic. The lyrics tell of a man professing his love for a female robot. The video for the song features a fembot being purchased and moving in a machine-like way. It also features scenes of a panel on the robot's back being opened to allow its battery to be changed. Electronic circuitry and wires can then be seen inside.
• In the 2004 video for the song "Plug It In" (from Basement Jaxx's 2003 album Kish Kash) two security guards activate some fembots after factory closing hours. The immodestly dressed robots move in the stereotypical jerky and mechanical ways and end up malfunctioning to the point of severe damage due to the overzealousness of the two guards controlling them.
• In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the android, Data, was the object of sexual desire more than once up to actual sex and was "fully functional" and "programmed with multiple techniques"
• The low budget 1981 science fiction film Escape from DS3 (produced by Anne Spielberg) features female robots that are used as a plot device for a prison break. In one scene, one of the robots has a large portion of her back removed, revealing complicated looking electronics underneath. The male lead is then heard to remark "You are so beautiful".
• Realistic sex robots are widely manufactured by robotics firms in the 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. A main character in the film is the mecha prostitute Gigolo Joe, played by Jude Law.
• In the 2005 movie Serenity, the character Mr. Universe owns (and is married to) a companion robot, even though she is partly operated by a remote control unit and acts in an obviously machine-like way.
• Futurama has used the term "robosexual" as a synonym of technosexuality in description of Fry and the Lucy Liu Android's robot fetishism relationship.

1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cherry 2000 is a science fiction cult film made in 1987. ... Electric Barbarella is the 29th single by Duran Duran, and the first official single from the album Medazzaland. ... Duran Duran is a British pop/rock band notable for a long series of popular, hit singles and vivid music videos. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The follow-up to the poorly received Thank You, an album of covers, this album finally made John Taylor leave the band. ... A Fembot (sometimes spelled Femmebot) is an alternate name for a gynoid depicted in two major productions, The Bionic Woman television series and the Austin Powers film series, which parodied the name. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Basement Jaxx is a critically acclaimed UK house music duo, comprising Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, that rose to popularity in the late 1990s. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kish Kash is a 2003 album by British house music duo Basement Jaxx. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Data,[1] portrayed by Brent Spiner, is a character in the Star Trek fictional universe. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anne Spielberg (born December 25, 1949) is the sister of film director Steven Spielberg. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... David Jude Heyworth Law (born December 29, 1972) is an Academy Award nominated English actor. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Serenity is a 2005 science fiction space western/epic film written and directed by Joss Whedon. ... This article is about minor characters in the television series Firefly. ... Futurama is an Emmy Award-winning animated sitcom created by Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and David X. Cohen for the Fox network, and will resume airing in 2008 on Comedy Central. ...

See also

Image File history File links Animation2. ... Actroid ReplieeQ1-expo at Expo 2005 in Aichi, with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguro An Actroid is a lifelike humanoid robot developed by Osaka University and manufactured by Kokoro Company Ltd. ... The android Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behavior. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hondas ASIMO, an example of a humanoid robot A humanoid robot is a robot with its overall appearance based on that of the human body. ... A RealDoll with face #11 The RealDoll is a life-size sex doll (also considered a mannequin) manufactured by Abyss Creations in San Marcos, California, and sold worldwide. ... A high end sex doll: A RealDoll by Abyss Creations A sex doll (also love doll) is a type of sex toy, imitating a human body for simulated sexual acts. ... Sexual objectification is objectification of a person, that is, seeing them as a sexual object, and emphasizing their sexual attributes and physical attractiveness, while de-emphasizing their existence as a living person with emotions and feelings of their own. ... A set of erotic statues. ... Drawing of a transformation scene. ... The Uncanny Valley is a hypothesis about robotics concerning the emotional response of humans to robots and other non-human entities. ...

References

Cover for an issue of the Metro newspaper, October 25th 2004. ... Bizarre is a sister publication to Fortean Times. ... Katharine Gates is a U.S. writer on sexuality. ... SexTV is a Canadian television series which premiered in 1998 which explores many issues about sexuality. ...

External links

• Fembot Central message board - ASFR community hub
• ASFR entry on sexuality.org
• The Technosexuality, Pygmalionist & Mind Control Fetish FAQ 3.0
• Sexually Interactive Autonomous Robots (Friedman and Kubat, M.I.T.)