Smart sex toy that collects data for a better user experience is finalist for Consumer Electronic Show award – a year after organizers were slammed for disqualifying a similar ‘massager’ for being ‘immoral and obscene’

• The Lioness smart vibrator, a sex toy that can be controlled through a mobile app, is a finalist for CES 2020’s Last Gadget Standing Award 
• It is marketed as the first vibrator to use data, its patented biofeedback technology, to improve the user’s experience 
• This is the first year sex technology products can qualify for awards
• Last year sex tech company Lora DiCarlo’s Ose vibrator was given the Innovation Honoree Award, but the gadget was later disqualified 
• Consumer Technology Association officials banned the Ose vibrator for being ‘immoral, obscene and indecent’, sparking outrage over sexism and bias
• Following backlash, the award was reinstated  

A sex toy that can be controlled through a mobile app and collects user data is a finalist for the Last Gadget Standing award at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year.

This is the first year that sex technology products can qualify for awards or be showcased under the health and wellness category in the tech-focused CES 2020 show, which runs from January 7 to 10, after a vibrator was banned from conference last year. 

At CES 2019 the robotic Ose vibrator by sex technology company Lora DiCarlo was given with the Innovation Honoree Award and put on display at the event, however that title was later withdrawn and the toy banned for being ‘immoral, obscene and indecent’ by the Consumer Technology Association.  

This year the Lioness smart vibrator is making history as sex toys are finally able to qualify for the technology awards. 

The Lioness smart vibrator, a sex toy that can be controlled through a mobile app, is a finalist for CES 2020’s Last Gadget Standing Award

The Lioness smart vibrator, created by the Oakland, California startup, calls itself the first vibrator to use data, its patented biofeedback technology, to improve the user’s experience. Lioness also says that it is the first vibrator company to have public ads at bus stops across San Francisco

The Lioness smart vibrator, created by the Oakland, California startup, calls itself the first vibrator to use data, its patented biofeedback technology, to improve the user’s experience.  

Lioness also says that it is the first vibrator company to have public ads at bus stops across San Francisco. 

‘We’re so happy to be officially launching at CES, who has invited sex tech companies to participate for the first time ever,’ Lioness Chief Executive and co-founder Liz Klinger said on the two-year-old company’s honor to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Klinger praised sex technology company Lora DiCarlo for paving the way for sex toys to be recognized in the technology show. 

‘We’ve known about CTA’s policies quite well over the years, having had our own issues being part of the show ourselves and having written about our own experience a few years ago. If Lora DiCarlo hadn’t received a signed letter from CTA executives and had it go out the way it did, no one would had known this was happening to sex tech companies.’ 

Last year Lora DiCarlo was invited to display its female-focused ‘personal massager’ Ose vibrator after it won the Innovation Honoree Award in the robotics and drone category. 

That award was then withdrawn and later reinstated. 

2020 Consumer Electronics Show Last Gadget Standing Award finalists 

Lioness Vibrator – Lioness

MedWand – MedWand Solutions

Octobo- Thinker-Tinker

WOWCube – CubiOs Inc

Orbi WiFi 6 Mesh – NETGEAR

ClearUP Sinus Pain Relief – Tivic Health

Phyn Smart Water Assistant – Phyn

Flic 2 Smart Button – Flic

DoodleMatic Mobile Game Maker – Tink Digital Inc

Ambassador Interpreter – Waverly Labs Inc 

The Consumer Technology Association disqualified the gadget, telling the company it reserved the right to rescind awards for devices deemed ‘immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA’s image.’

The CTA was slammed for revoking the award as sexist and having a gender bias towards women. The decision puzzled many CES attendees as sex toys are not banned at the show.

In May the CTA admitted it ‘did not handle this award properly’ and gave back the award.

‘CTA is pleased to present Lora DiCarlo with a CES 2019 Innovation Award. 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,’ Jean Foster, CTA’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, said in a statement according to Venture Beat.

‘CES is an extremely important venue to showcase new innovations to press, retailers, and investors, so it’s great to see the innovations in this area get the recognition and ability to connect with the greater public that they deserve,’ Klinger added in her statement. 

Last Gadget Standing announced its ten finalists for 2020 Consumer Electronics Show on Thursday, choosing from hundreds of applicants. 

Other contenders include a plush toy that is also a learning robot and a smart button. 

On January 9 the 10 finalists will demonstrate their gadgets before an audience and votes will be taken at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

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