On 30th May 2008, hearing technology company, Sensear Pty Ltd won the Australian International Design Award under the Medical and Scientific category.
The company has developed an electronic ear plug for safety which minimises dangerous industrial noise but allows face to face, mobile phone and two-way radio communication.
The Australian International Design Award, a division of Standards Australia, attracted entries from Australia and overseas. There were 61 finalists.
Sensear’s innovative product was also recognised as one of the five best in the competition.
Sensear’s electronic ear plug also won the competition’s Powerhouse Museum Design Award. This award, introduced by the Powerhouse Museum in 2007, is given to a product that has the potential to make a significant improvement in the quality of health. It recognises the important role for design in harnessing the challenges of science and technology to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
“The SP1x electronic earplug represents excellence in product design, software and electronics design based on innovative Australian research. It demonstrates the potential for design to make a real positive difference,” said Angelique Hutchison, Curator of Product Design at the Powerhouse Museum.
The Australian International Design Award adds to a growing list of awards picked up by the company. Sensear has won the 2008 DuPont Innovation Awards for the Medical and Healthcare category. It also won the 2008 Best Newcomer Safety in Action Award in Melbourne and the 2008 Western Australian Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards (WAITTA) Innovation category.
According to Sensear’s Managing Director Justin Miller, the electronic ear plug has the potential to dramatically reduce the incidence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) at workplace.
“It takes only two minutes exposure to very loud noise before permanent hearing damage occurs. These awards recognise that our technology can provide a safer environment for people working in high noise industries” he said.
Sensear Pty Ltd has sold its revolutionary electronic ear plug to more than 50 companies in Australia, the USA, Europe, China and the UK since entering the marketplace in March.