Robotic Dildo Reinstated with Innovation Prize by CES

The robotic dildo stripped of its award at CES 2019 has been reinstated with the prize. The Osé robotic massager was given an innovation award by the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January but then had the award taken away and the company was banned from exhibiting.

RELATED: ROBOTIC DILDO STRIPPED OF AWARD AT CES RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT GENDER BIAS

The consumer Technology Association (CTA) who decide the prizes said at the time that the dildo didn’t actually fit the category that it was competing in, But the company's founder, Lora Haddock claimed the show was showing gender bias about a piece of technology aimed primarily at a female market.

Female sexuality needs more visibility

Haddock said the CTA rejected the product because of its connection to female sexuality. The Osé robotic massager is described by Haddock as the world's first ‘hands-free device for the holy grail of orgasms — the blended orgasm.’

The robotic dildo ‘mimics all of the sensations of a human mouth, tongue, and fingers, for an experience that feels just like a real partner. The product even adjusts to each body's unique physiology for a personal fit that hits all the right spots, leaving the hands free for better uses.’

CTA backflip on decision

Just weeks after being given the award CTA stripped the emerging robotics company of the award saying it wasn’t eligible.

“Entries deemed by CTA in their sole discretion to be immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA’s image will be disqualified. CTA reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entry at any time which, in CTA’s opinion, endangers the safety or well being of any person, or fails to comply with these Official Rules,” the organization stated.

Now it seems they have changed their tune. "The CTA did not handle this award properly," said Jean Foster, a marketing executive at the organization.

"This prompted some important conversations internally and with external advisers, and we look forward to taking these learnings to continue to improve the show”

Robotics company gets two wins 

Haddock says she appreciates the effort made by the CTA and hopes that their actions will go some way to destigmatize female sexuality.

"The incredible support and attention we've received in the wake of our experience highlights the need for meaningful changes, and we are hopeful that our small company can continue to contribute meaningful progress toward making CES inclusive for all," she added.

The banning of the Osé robotic massager from being displayed at CES 2019 was further criticized as the organization's weakness in gender equality.

Osé personal massager will be available for sale in the Fall of 2019. The company just announced it has raised an additional $2 million in financing from both new and existing investors led by the Oregon Opportunity Zone Limited Partnership.