"Breath Hydrogen Monitor" received the Gold Award

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) has reconfirmed its commitment to quality and excellence in design by clinching three awards at iF DESIGN AWARD 2023. The Breath Hydrogen Monitor, based on Toshiba’s Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) hydrogen sensor technology, won the iF GOLD AWARD, the highest award, in the Professional Concept category for future technologies. In addition, Toshiba’s Hydrogen Leak Checker and the Slot Antenna on Shielded Package (SASP) solution both received an iF DESIGN AWARD.

iF DESIGN AWARD, one of the most prestigious international competitions for good design, is sponsored by the world’s oldest independent design organization. iF International Forum Design GmbH, based in Hanover, Germany. This year, only 75 projects received the iF GOLD AWARD, from among almost 11,000 entries submitted from 56 nations.

Outline of Toshiba’s winning projects:

1. Breath Hydrogen Monitor
As lifespans grow longer, and the potential for living to 100 draws nearer, there is an increasing concern to ensure that longer lives are also healthy lives. This is drawing attention to analysis of the intestinal environment by measuring hydrogen produced by the action of intestinal flora. Toshiba has conducted preliminary design and visualization of use scenarios for the Breath Hydrogen Monitor, which mounts a hydrogen sensor on an ultra-compact chip only several millimeters square, developed using the company’s advanced MEMS technology. The proposed design aims at daily home monitoring, and has the potential to play a role in guiding dietary choices and health management, and to extend healthy life expectancy. The design for contributing to improved quality of life won a high evaluation.

2. Hydrogen Leakage Checker
The Hydrogen Leak Checker is a design proposal for a sensing device that ensures the safety of maintenance workers supporting deployment of infrastructure for hydrogen, a next-generation energy source that will advance carbon neutrality.
The checker, which mounts a sensor fabricated with MEMS technology, is compact, portable and easily installed, designed for connection to a smartphone. It allows maintenance personnel to create and quickly share maintenance records, and also facilitates smooth communication during emergencies, via the smartphone. It is expected to help ensure the safety of maintenance personnel and contribute to the realization of a safe and secure carbon-neutral society, and was highly evaluated for its design efforts to create and visualize a desired future.

3. Slot Antenna on Shielded Package (SASP) solution
Developed with Toshiba’s original design technology, SASP is in the class of the world’s smallest* high-performance Bluetooth modules. Its extremely small size and light weight will not only allow use in wearable devices, such as smartwatches and earpieces but also in previously unthought of uses in sportswear, buttons on clothing, and even incorporation into the clothing itself. The module will make it dramatically easier to design diverse devices, and improve the customer experience of using IoT-based data services. Toshiba has visualized use cases for devices that will resonate with customers, and that fit naturally into their lifestyles, to the point where they can be taken for granted. The design goals of creating value for people and society, and to bring new value to daily experiences, were highly evaluated.

About the iF DESIGN AWARD
The iF DESIGN AWARD has been a globally recognized trademark when it comes to excellent design. The iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honors design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture, as well as the user interface (UI), user experience (UX) and professional concepts. All award-winning entries are presented on www.ifdesign.com.

*The class of world's smallest shielded type module with a built-in 32KHz/32MHz crystal oscillator. Source: Toshiba’s research.