High-tech sex toy for women wins back a rescinded award

A trade group has reinstated an award to the makers of a robotic sex toy for women that it had taken away four months ago for not keeping with its image.

The Consumer Technology Association on Wednesday restored the Consumer Electronics Show's 2019 Innovation Award in the robotics and drones category to the Osé "robotic massager" by the Lora DiCarlo company.  It claims to be a product designed for "hands-free blended orgasms."

The association says it recognizes the "innovative technology" and "reiterates its sincere apology" to the developer.

Association spokesperson Jean Foster says in a statement that "CTA did not handle this award properly.   This prompted some important conversations internally and with external advisors and we look forward to taking these learnings to continue to improve the show.”

An independent panel of judges had selected the Osé last fall, but the Consumer Electronics Show's organizer later said it was ineligible.

Lora DiCarlo called it sexism, noting that "a literal sex doll for men was launched on the floor at CES in 2018."

"I am thankful that the CTA has reconsidered our eligibility for this award and validated the innovation our engineering team is responsible for," said Lora Haddock, founder and CEO of Lora DiCarlo said.

The trade association says it will update its policies ahead of next year's show, which will take place in Las Vegas on January 7-10, 2020.

The Lora DiCarlo sex tech company announced in March that it had been awarded a nearly $100,000 grant from the state of Oregon for the commercialization of its Osé device.

On Wednesday the company announced it had achieved an additional $2 million in financing from investors for its produce.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.