OpenVibe's wants to enable makers to create their own Sex Toys with the help of kits and tutorials through Open Source designs and Digital Fabrication. The aim is to empower makers to playfully explore their own sexuality while simultaneously getting females (or non-binary) into tech by creating an arena that naturally aims towards females.
The idea came to me naturally as a girl engaged in the maker scene for a longer time period as I saw for myself what a minority women were there. Once I came to Fab Lab Wellington in New Zealand I got a chance to develop this idea I’d been harnessing for 5 years, it eventually became my final project and got it’s name OpenVibe.
Web Platform
OpenVibe consists of a store to buy kits and web platform for sharing, developing and downloading Open Source designs and programs for sex toys which can be fabricated through 3D printing, CNC-milling, molding and casting as well as programming. The goal is to create an exciting new way for women to get involved in tech by letting makers follow lessons on how to use the tools as well as use tutorials to make their own devices.
Envisioned as a platform with similarities to KhanAcademy and Instructables where makers can download designs and upload their own designs, programs and tutorials to empower sexuality while sharing their pleasure for others to build on and enjoy.
Kits and Components
To build one needs bricks. The lack of accessibility to sex toy components is currently a big issue for makers set on building their own device. OpenVibe wants to solve this by selling kits with all the basic component requirements to make ones own sex toy.
Workshops
With help from the website and easy accessibility to the components it's the perfect time to launch the real life workshops. Through workshops women can connect with other tech interested women, develop the field of tech and toys while simultaneously de-stigmatizing sexuality.
Workshops can be integrated in the ever-rising geek girls conventions, at Makerspaces or at schools as an integration in tech and sexual education. Let's set the bar higher.