113. How porn drives tech innovation

The porn industry is behind many of the innovations that drive e-commerce and the consumer internet today. If you want to know what new trend is going to be the hottest thing in tech, the makers of smut probably have the answer.

Learning notes from this episode:

• The adult industry pioneered streaming video, tracking devices and online credit card transactions.
• Even before the advent of the internet, porn drove consumer tech. Author Patchen Barss  says that without porn, the VCR might have never taken off as a consumer product.
• Pornographers are not necessarily the inventors of new technologies, but they are  the first to use them and thus drive consumer adoption. Once a technology works for porn users, they often flow down to the mainstream.
• If you are a tech investor or a tech innovator, seeing what new products or use cases are happening in the adult industry, can help you spot the next big trend. The more you can pick up ideas from wherever they come from, regardless of whether they are from culturally approved places, the more creative you will be in your work.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Business Insider: How porn drives innovation in tech
• Web root: internet Pornography by the Numbers
• Obscene Profits: The Entrepreneurs of Pornography in the Cyber Age, by Frederick Lane 
• The Erotic Engine, by Patchen Barss

Join the The Non-Technical Founders Introduction to Tech workshop

You will learn:

• The framework for how to go from idea to live product
• Product management fundamentals
• How to work with developers effectively
• How and when to hire a product team

Listen here on Apple Podcasts

Listen here on Spotify

-----

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

-----

There are 2 ways to apply this work to your goals:

For individuals, APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL for Tech For Non-Techies membership.

For companies: If you want to increase productivity, innovation and diversity, then your non-technical teams need to learn how to collaborate with the techies. 

BOOK A CALL to discuss bespoke training & consulting.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on [email protected]

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter. 

(Photo by rexcuando Unsplash)