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CES 2019: 'Award-winning' sex toy for women withdrawn from show | CES 2019: 'Award-winning' sex toy for women withdrawn from show |
(35 minutes later) | |
A sex toy designed for women has been banned from the technology show CES. | A sex toy designed for women has been banned from the technology show CES. |
Lora DiCarlo said it had been invited to display its robotic Ose vibrator at CES, after winning an innovation award. | Lora DiCarlo said it had been invited to display its robotic Ose vibrator at CES, after winning an innovation award. |
CES organiser the Consumer Technology Association, which granted the award, said it had included the device by mistake and could withdraw any immoral or obscene entry at any time. | CES organiser the Consumer Technology Association, which granted the award, said it had included the device by mistake and could withdraw any immoral or obscene entry at any time. |
Lora DiCarlo chief executive Lora Haddock said the CES and CTA had a history of gender bias. | Lora DiCarlo chief executive Lora Haddock said the CES and CTA had a history of gender bias. |
In a statement to The Next Web, the CTA said: "The product does not fit into any of our existing product categories and should not have been accepted. | In a statement to The Next Web, the CTA said: "The product does not fit into any of our existing product categories and should not have been accepted. |
"We have apologised to the company for our mistake." | "We have apologised to the company for our mistake." |
But, in a statement on the Lora DiCarlo website, Ms Haddock cites several examples of other female-oriented products included in the award category the vibrator was in. | But, in a statement on the Lora DiCarlo website, Ms Haddock cites several examples of other female-oriented products included in the award category the vibrator was in. |
"Two robotic vacuum cleaners, one robotic skateboard, four children's toys, one shopping companion robot - looks like all of women's interests are covered, right?" she said. | "Two robotic vacuum cleaners, one robotic skateboard, four children's toys, one shopping companion robot - looks like all of women's interests are covered, right?" she said. |
"Ose clearly fits the robotics and drone category - and CTA's own expert judges agree." | "Ose clearly fits the robotics and drone category - and CTA's own expert judges agree." |
The product had been designed in partnership with a robotics laboratory at Oregon State University and had eight patents pending for "robotics, biomimicry, and engineering feats", Ms Haddock said. | |
"We firmly believe that women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQI folks should be vocally claiming our space in pleasure and tech," she said. | "We firmly believe that women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQI folks should be vocally claiming our space in pleasure and tech," she said. |
Ms Haddock said there was a double-standard at CES when it came to sexual health products targeted at men versus women. | Ms Haddock said there was a double-standard at CES when it came to sexual health products targeted at men versus women. |
"Men's sexuality is allowed to be explicit, with a literal sex robot in the shape of an unrealistically proportioned woman and VR porn in point of pride along the aisle," she said. | "Men's sexuality is allowed to be explicit, with a literal sex robot in the shape of an unrealistically proportioned woman and VR porn in point of pride along the aisle," she said. |
The products she is referring to are the RealDoll sex robot Harmony, which debuted at last year's event, and a room showcasing virtual reality porn off the main conference in 2017. | The products she is referring to are the RealDoll sex robot Harmony, which debuted at last year's event, and a room showcasing virtual reality porn off the main conference in 2017. |
The VR porn room was reportedly visited more than 1,000 times in its first day of opening. | The VR porn room was reportedly visited more than 1,000 times in its first day of opening. |
This year, an unofficial shuttle bus is taking people from the conference site to a legal brothel for a sex-video experience controlled by an Amazon Echo speaker. | This year, an unofficial shuttle bus is taking people from the conference site to a legal brothel for a sex-video experience controlled by an Amazon Echo speaker. |
Twitter users have reacted to the decision using the hashtag #CESGenderBias. | Twitter users have reacted to the decision using the hashtag #CESGenderBias. |
'Why is CES threatened by empowered women and the products that empower them?" wrote one user. | 'Why is CES threatened by empowered women and the products that empower them?" wrote one user. |
'CES is literally one big sex toy for men and that's always been OK,' said another. | 'CES is literally one big sex toy for men and that's always been OK,' said another. |