- See also: The CES 2012 booth babe problem
The huge yearly Las Vegas convention no longer shared timing with a yearly porn convention, but tech-focused porn denizens and performers made headlines at CES regardless.
Porn convention no longer same weekend as CES
Typically, the tech convention and porn convention happen on or around the same dates as each other, creating a mix of porn stars and nerds (or hustlers and tech jocks) at Las Vegas bars, parties and mixers.
This year, the porn convention (Adult Entertainment Expo, or AEE) changes its dates.
Many thought that this would make for a very different atmosphere at CES than usual. The NYT suggested that "something will be missing."
Interestingly, the founder of AEE says that the two conventions used to be one and the same.
Porn stars proffered porn products near CES
The porn convention's schedule change didn't deter tech-minded porn companies or tech-loving porn stars from attending and hawking wares like the rest of the gadget pimps.
Pink Visual, makers of the first iPad porn app and porn API contest, made the biggest impact - despite not being allowed to participate at CES
After being turned down an exhibitor's spot, Pink Visual held what they called a "tech forward" event a few steps away from CES, along with other sex-tech companies such as RealTouch. The afternoon mixer and demo event was called "Pr0n Party" and had a Tron theme, which ran from 4-7PM.
At the event Pink Visual's female CEO Alison Vivas told AFP,
We want to break down the stigma. There is no reason that adult entertainment can't be a mainstream event and be represented professionally to adult consumers.
At their display, porn stars such as Alexis texas and (my favorite) Lexi Belle joined Pink Visual engineers and techs in showing and telling attendees about Pink Visual's apps.
- 'Safest sex imaginable': CES gadget fair 'geeks' get peek at sex tech (Sydney Morning Herald)
Teledildonics demos for CES attendees
At the Pr0n Party, teledildonics company RealTouch left some lasting impressions with their hands-on demonstrations of remote internet controlled adult toys.
CES attendees got to see exactly how remote touch devices worked, and RealTouch's manager Scott Rinaldo explained the company's idea to provide intimacy and sexual connection to couples that have to be separated for periods of time - most notably, he mentioned, partners of military stationed overseas in places such as Afghanistan.
Rinaldo told PC Mag that he's working on distributing "a thousand dildos for the military wives" and is trying to get in touch with the U.S. military to have RealTouch approved as a method for a sort of virtual conjugal visit.
Business Insider pointed out that they didn't know what one babe was selling, but they think it had something to do with Windows 8. They quoted her saying, "It has an app store where you can download apps" and mocked her by adding, "Insightful!"
She was, in fact, in garters and stockings to represent ViewTronicx. Xtreme went for busty girls in tight white t-shirts. Panasonic had girls playing indoor soccer in nylon shorts.
The Skunk Juice booth at CES had a lot of hot women wearing low cut t-shirts that read “Wanna hook up?” on the back. iShower featured - you guessed it - a lady in undies and a towel, fake-showering in a fake shower display.
I have to wonder if anyone would have noticed the difference had Pink Visual been allowed to participate.
- MORE BOOTH BABES: This Is How Crappy Gadget Companies Get You To Look At Their Stuff (Business Insider)
- CES 2012: The Booth Babes (Think Computers, sound autoplay alert)
- 'Booth babes' stir controversy at 2012 CES (BBC)
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