Virtual Reality and Pornography: An X-Rated Debate on the Technological Kingmaker

The true test of virtual reality is upon us. As the consumer version of the Oculus Rift rolls into homes across the globe, the world is watching intently to see if this is truly virtual reality's moment. But what will be its killer application? Will our basest desires drive adoption as they have with previous mediums? Or has porn been dethroned as a technological kingmaker?

Pornography as the Driver of Hardware Adoption

Here's the uncomfortable truth that most people refuse to swallow: If virtual reality is going to take off, it's going to be on the wings of pornography. It's not going to be clever PlayStation games or films from major movie studios that make VR mainstream. It's going to be companies like Kink.com, Naughty America and Pornhub that convince every household they need a VR headset.

As history shows, the adult industry has a history of picking the winner. Just look at what happened to poor Betamax when Sony decided it wanted nothing to do with pornography. The industry embraced VHS and the rest is history. It wasn't that long ago that the industry coalesced around Blu-ray, partially thanks to it's larger capacity. I'm sure you don't need to be reminded how that turned out: HD-DVD became a historical footnote and Blu-ray was crowned the standard for high-def media.

The Economic Reality of Modern VR Content

However, the evidence supporting porn's influence on tech is shaky at best, and porn isn't what it used to be. When the war over Betmax and VHS was going strong, the porn industry was still in its nascent stages. It was new and provocative. The industry had its boom. And it's been through its bust. Porn today looks nothing like it did in the days of physical media.

As we've learned in the internet age, quality isn't at the top of people's minds. If we can get it for cheap or free, we're down. That goes double for porn. VR is too expensive to produce to give away for free, and no one wants to be transported into a generic, cheaply made POV video. In order for consumers to buy into what could be a very expensive and high-friction experience, they're going to have to see something new and spectacular.

Technological Innovations Pioneered by the Adult Industry

Despite changes in the market, the industry has a proven ability to propel the adoption of new technology. Much of the internet is powered by technology that may not have been invented by the porn industry, but was pushed forward by it. Key historical data points include:

• On-demand and Live Streaming: It wasn't Netflix or Skype that first brought on-demand and live streaming video into people's homes; it was porn.
• Communication Tech: Camgirls and other sex-industry performers were pioneers in the field of live streaming and live chat. That expensive teleconferencing system in your office uses technology that was pioneered by pornographers.
• Online Payments: In the early '90s the idea of using your credit card to buy something online was pretty far-fetched, but was pushed forward by the adult sector.

Porn's studio system, like much of establishment media, finds itself competing with amateurs. Yet, some of the first plug-in free video was delivered by porn sites. This history suggests that while manufacturers like HTC or Oculus don't need to embrace the porn industry necessarily, they need to not actively try and defeat it.