This is the continuation of last week's interview with Electro-Stim pioneer Eric Forbes. If you missed part 1, you'll find it in our Archives. But here's where we left off:
"AdultFriendFinder: So basically the set-up involves a power unit that generates the zap, an electrode that delivers the zap to the skin, and some sort of way to keep the electrode in contact with the skin, like a band or a jock cup or something insertable like a butt plug. Is this accurate?
FORBES: Yes, although the word "zap" isn't the best way to describe the sensation in most cases..."
[And now for part 2:]
---
FORBES: Yes, although the word "zap" isn't the best way to describe the sensation in most cases. Where "zaps" last for a short time and tend to surprise the one they are delivered to (I think of the violet wand's high-voltage sparks, for example), our units produce more of a "buzzing" or "tingling" sensation which changes over time, but basically repeats with some regularity. Most people get an idea of what electricity feels like from bad experiences (static zaps from touching a metal object after walking across a carpeted floor, or coming into contact with line voltage through a household appliance or lamp socket) and I'm doing my best to show that electricity takes a variety of forms and can feel very pleasurable when applied correctly.
AdultFriendFinder: When buying the power unit, what are some things people want to consider? (For example, what kinds of versatility is available? Is some equipment more likely to give beginners unpleasant results? Explain.
FORBES: There are a few commercial units available, and most are based on medical TENS units which produce a numbing sensation if left unattended. In my mind, these kinds of units would be the least versatile for most purposes. There is one unit I can think of that was made specifically for pain more than pleasure also (the Folsom Max) and I have customers now that had one as their first unit and almost abandoned e-stim entirely based on the sensations produced by it. When it was released years ago, it was the first of its kind to offer completely isolated outputs that toggled back and forth so that nipple stim could be done more safely. Unfortunately, most new e-stim users find its output to be too sharp and usually painful more than anything else. And while TENS units are very inexpensive, they are somewhat lacking in excitement and leave most users wanting more.
When considering the power unit, there are a few things to consider: price, safety, portability, and expandability. We've positioned ourselves to lead in all of these areas, although some find the price of our top of the line ET-312 out of their range. The fact is, there is nothing like the ET-312 and we have customers that regularly use theirs for 3 years and more, due to the variety of sensations available, software for additional stim routine download, portability and power output available.
AdultFriendFinder: Other than issues of personal taste, what should people consider when they look at various adapters and other toys?
FORBES: One thing that gets little attention is material safety. I recall early anal electrodes made of plastic and lead foil tape, or now, sharp aluminum foil and refuse to use or sell these types of constructions.
The best material I can think of for toys is solid polished aluminum, since it is non-toxic, lightweight, and easy to clean up. [Forbes' jock type ball cup is aluminum]. Other materials including lead, aluminum foil, thin-walled cigar tubes (that can collapse and turn into razor dildos in the process), chrome-plated steel (that can chip off and create razor shards) have been or are still widely available in e-stim toys, but I refrain from using them or recommending them to customers. Conductive rubber materials are very safe, and can be molded into a variety of shapes, but are much less conductive than aluminum, and don't heat up to body temperature which I think makes aluminum toys feel more erotic even when not powered up.
AdultFriendFinder: Have you heard of people having occasional phantom after-effects sort of like tics or muscle twitches, particularly in case of long-term use or excessive use?
FORBES: I've heard of a handful of people that reported less than normal sensation or phantom tingling in their cock and balls, for example, after a long uninterrupted e-stim session at high power levels. In every case that I know, these sensations subside in a day or less, and are not thought to cause long-term damage or dulling of sensitivity.
AdultFriendFinder: Your information talks about how with "low overall power level, ErosTek products can create very intense sensations ‒ more intense than most other erotic e-stim devices available today." How?
FORBES: The power delivered to the body is very important, and without some sort of feedback circuit that monitors and controls the power at every moment, it is possible to impose too much energy into the skin or internal tissue which can cause problems. The fact that our units create some of the most intense sensations while always staying within known power limits is a bit confusing, but it has a lot to do with the voltages and shapes of our stimulation waveforms which deliver very narrow pulses (and thus, low power) which seem much more intense than they are actually on for. It's analogous to the light we see from a fluorescent lamp which is in fact, turning on and off very quickly, although our eyes sense that it is continuously on.
THE END
---
You can find all you need for Forbes' basic remote rig at our shop for ALT.com members (just click on "shop" in the menu bar of your ALT.com screen). You can of course find Forbes' complete offerings (he's merged with Eros Tek the creator of versatile power units) and some descriptive information at his web site www.sextek.com. And you may find Eros Tek/SexTek and other e-stim equipment sold through www.mr-s-leather.com. These days, even your favorite local sex or fetish shop may carry this gear -- just ask.
Reset Password
Reset Link Sent
Conclusion: It's Erotic; It's Electric
by Editors with Eric Forbes
Member Votes
Editor Article Search
|
|