New To Kink?

What is Kink?

Kink is an umbrella term that generally refers to sexual practices, interests, etc that are considered outside of a society's sexual norm. This includes BDSM, fetishes, and more.

Kink is a complex notion, and isn't always sexual.

While many terms within the kink world are static and have a universally recognized meaning, many terms have a flexible meaning. For instance, like many LGBTQ+ terms, there may be disagreements about what certain words mean. Figuring out what a term means to you, to the communities you are in, and to the person/people you are talking to (and being respectful about it) can decrease confusion and keep everyone on the same page.

Where and why and how do I learn?

If you're new to kink it is important to do your own research before getting involved, and to keep learning throughout your kink journey. Relying on a single source or on one person for all of your information can put you and others at risk. 

Our suggestion is to find both online and in-person communities. Some ways of learning can be more or less accessible, and there is no one way to learn that is better than the rest. In other words, what works for you the best is the best way for you to learn. Watch a few different content creators, read a few different academic papers, make a few different friends, attend a few different meet-ups or munches. The key here is that you're taking in multiple different viewpoints and then engaging in critical thought.

And of course, you learn by doing. We recommend researching first because mistakes that you make when learning by doing can be very harmful to everyone involved. No one is perfect, but that doesn't mean it's okay to be reckless. We are responsible for the effects we have on others, regardless of our intentions.

Google gave me 1,000,000,000 results. I feel lost in a sea of information. Help.

There's a lot of information and it might feel overwhelming at first. That's totally normal. Take your time. Just take your time.

So what is the Vario for then, in a kink sense?

Communication and consent are cornerstones of safely practicing kink.

Common modes of communication include safe words, hard limits discussed beforehand, pre-scene negotiation, the stoplight color system, nodding, and tapping. Most of these are verbal.

But what happens if you can't verbalize? And you can't tap?

For example, if a submissive is completely bound in rope and gagged, the sub can neither vocalize nor tap. The dominant may not see a nod or hear a noise depending on the situation, positioning, etc.

The most common solution for a situation like this is to have an item that the sub holds in their hand and drops if things need to stop.

However, sometimes the object doesn't make a noise. Consider a handkerchief on a carpet. Or, sometimes if there's rough action going on, the object might simply slip out of the sub's hand accidentally. Consider a jingle bell falling too easily from a sweaty palm.

Additionally, what if the Dominant is hard of hearing? Or has impaired vision? Or you have a visually or auditorily loud environment (like a dungeon)?

The Vario seeks to answer all of these problems.

The Vario uses the common green/yellow/red stoplight system. It can be held in one hand, supports a wrist strap to prevent accidental dropping, and creates both visual and audio signals (light and sound).

With use the Vario can become second nature as a communication device, helping to bridge communication gaps when submissives or dominants go nonverbal and have trouble communicating traditionally, even when they are technically able to do so.

So do I need a Vario to do kink right?

No, absolutely not.

There are many valid ways to practice kink. We want to provide a tool to help communication, but the Vario is just that- a tool- and safely practicing kink is up to the individuals involved.

Can I get a Vario if I'm not into kink?

Yes, absolutely!

Although we are not marketing the Vario as an AAC (augmented and alternative communication) device, that's exactly what it is.

Some of our prototype testers and some of the team have already used the Vario in everyday ways. We are neurodivergent and have worked with other neurodivergent and disabled people.

The reality is that going nonverbal, or even being nonverbal all the time, doesn't need to be as big a communication barrier as it is. The Vario isn't a be-all end-all solution, but it can help.