Realistic 3-D-Printed Penises Are Used In Sex-Ed Classes Now, So You Missed Out
It's 2017, and penises are about to come right atcha face in good ol' 3-D.
Yes, you heard that right.
Meant to assist blind students across the globe, 3-D-printed technology will soon be used as a hands-on tool when it comes to learning about proper sex education.
According to Mashable, a group of researchers from non-profit tech organization Benetech have developed not just one, but 18 models — from a completely flaccid penis to fully dilated vagina — that provide a hands-on approach for those who can't see.
When it comes to learning the ins and outs of sex, describing things vocally just doesn't cut it anymore. And until now, that's been the only way to learn about sex and sexual health for blind students.
According to a recent study, 61 percent of blind individuals have claimed their lack of vision is a serious detriment when it comes to learning about sex education.
Not only do these modernized sex-ed tools provide an update for sex-ed classes as a whole, but they compensate for those who will get absolutely nothing out of a solely verbal lesson.
Northern Illinois University Professor Dr. Gaylen Kapperman told Mashable,
3D models are the only types of models that make any sense to blind people. Many people believe that if you provide raised-lined 2D tactile pictures of sex organs that blind people will be able to generalize this information. [That approach] makes no sense whatsoever for blind persons.
To test some of the first models, Benetech teamed up with LightHouse for the Blind and Northern Illinois University, where blind college students were the first to use some of the prototypes.
Following a second test on both blind high school and middle school students, researchers hope to produce complete 3-D printing files for teachers across the country.
This means mean schools will only pay for printers and the printing materials, which have become extremely common in most schools already.
For schools without access to 3-D printers, Benetech will provide special pre-printed models for use, which they plan to sell for much cheaper than other models currently available.
"It is our hope that these models will be an effective teaching tool for teachers to communicate sex education in a way that works for students who are blind and visually impaired," said Dr Lisa Wadors Warne, Benetech's program manager of education and partnerships.
This is some high-tech, quality, dong magic right here, and I'm all for it (and kind of jealous).
Even though I'm no longer a student, I wouldn't mind nabbing myself one of these 3-D penises — for education purposes only, of course.
Citations: How 3D printing can help blind students learn about sex (Mashable), These Maybe-NSFW, 3D-Printed Sex Organs Are Designed To Help Blind Students In Sex Ed (Fast Company)
