Hanyang University Play Lab Wins CES 2025 Best of Innovation Award for TD2-Tinnitus Digital Treatment Device
On December 31, Hanyang University’s Play Lab, supervised by Professor Kim Ki-bum, was announced as a recipient of the Best of Innovation Award at the upcoming CES (Consumer Electronics Show) scheduled for January in Las Vegas. This award represents a milestone as it is the first time a university research institute has received such recognition.
Award Overview
The Best of Innovation Award is conferred by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which assesses innovative technologies and products using a panel of over 110 judges, consisting of professionals in industrial design, engineering, and media. This year, the competition featured approximately 3,400 innovative technologies and products, reflecting a 13% increase from CES 2024. Furthermore, the event expanded its product categories from 29 to 33, now including areas such as beauty and personal care, fashion technology, and pet technology.
Innovative Device: TD2-Tinnitus Digital Treatment Device
The Play Lab’s entry, the TD2-Tinnitus Digital Treatment Device, was selected as the Best of Innovation in the Digital Health category. This device, known as TD Squared, employs a blend of auditory, visual, and tactile feedback systems integrated with Virtual Reality (VR) to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy for patients dealing with tinnitus. The design allows patients to interact with virtual tinnitus avatars, personalized through generative AI, fostering a multisensory environment aimed at assisting individuals in recognizing and managing their tinnitus.
Development Support and Collaboration
Development support for TD Squared was provided by the Korean Government’s Medical Device Development Project, which oversees the complete research and development cycle, including clinical trials and commercialization efforts. The research involved collaboration among several institutions, including a team led by Professor Choi Joon from the Korea University Department of Otolaryngology and a research group from Hanyang University.
Professor Kim Ki-bum’s Remarks
Regarding the importance of the award, Professor Kim Ki-bum acknowledged the collaborative contributions of his graduate students throughout the five-year project, which began with its pilot version in 2020. He emphasized the desire to share this accomplishment with the students who participated in the lab.
Future Research Plans
The Play Lab at Hanyang University is committed to ongoing research in virtual reality technologies, including projects focused on assistive systems for visually impaired individuals, and plans to develop additional functional virtual reality content akin to TD Squared in the future.
(Source: Newshyu)
