Picking what you think is a ripe, juicy peach from your fruit bowl - only to discover its mouldy and furry underneath - may soon be a thing of the past.
Scientists have developed a fruit bowl fitted with a sensor that monitors the levels of a chemical released during the fruit's ripening process.
When these levels of the chemical (called ethylene) increase, it acts as a trigger that the fruit is beginning to rot and the system lights up to alert the owner that the fruit must be eaten soon.
Jagjit Chodha designed the fruit bowl that can reduce food waste by alerting users their produce is beginning to rot. It was inspired by statistics that show 440,000 tonnes of fruit is wasted each year from homes in the UK Chodha's fruit bowl has a sensor attached, pictured, that monitors ethylene levels released during fruit's ripening process. When these levels increase it acts as a trigger that the fruit is beginning to rot and the system lights up to alert the user MADE IN BRUNEL 2012 HIGHLIGHTSLast year's event featured the Pure Plant Pot by designer Chengyu Zheng.
It is a biodegradable seed tray that can be planted in the ground and eventually degrades, removing the need for plastic plant pots.
David Crittenden designed a pocket projector that lets people project photos and slides wherever they are.
A pilot survival suit for people who fly light aircraft was designed by Andrew Matthews.
It's fitted with smart materials that can help the pilot survive if they're forced to make an emergency landing.
The bowl was designed by design student Jagjit Chodha, of London's Brunel University.
It was inspired by statistics that show 440,000 tonnes of fruit is wasted each year from homes in the UK.
Chodha's device is just one of the highlights of this year's Made in Brunel Design and Engineering Show being held at The Bargehouse at the Oxo Tower in London from 13 to 16 June.
The exhibition showcases the innovations of designers from Brunel University’s School of Design and Engineering.
Other highlights of the show include a device that measures how much breast milk a baby is consuming, a watch that helps to relieve stress and a device that helps disabled people use deodorant.
This year’s show focuses on stories of the design and engineering students and 'how their own personalities and experiences have shaped their products.'
Peter Hunt designed the Alo Breastfeeding Volume Monitor.
The product measures how much milk a baby is consuming during breastfeeding to give the mother peace of mind and ensure that they have a healthy feeding baby.
More... Riding down memory lane! The hobby horse-style bike that has no pedals or even a saddle That'll make sure the bugs don't bite! The 'sky tent' suspended in mid-air that protects campers from the rain - and a hard floorThe device gives real-time feedback of how much a baby is consuming without interfering with the breastfeeding.
This means action can be taken before the baby becomes ill, for example.
Peter Hunt designed the Alo Breastfeeding Volume Monitor. The product measures how much milk a baby is consuming during breastfeeding to give the mother peace of mind and ensure that they have a healthy feeding baby Peter Hunt's Alo Breastfeeding Monitor has a rubber panel that attaches to the mother's breast. The device is attached to a circuit board with a digital display. This display gives real-time feedback of how much a baby is consuming without interrupting the baby during feedingStudent Lynnette Smith developed a product that helps people living with disabilities apply deodorant without help.
Smith's design was inspired by a letter written to the university by a local family looking for a solution for their daughter with Cerebral Palsy.
Johnny Connor's Zen design is a wrist-mounted device that looks like a watch.
It is fitted with sensors that monitor for increased heart rate and other biological signs of anxiety.
It then vibrates to alert the wearer they are anxious and displays options to help them relieve the stress. It also shows accurate bio-feedback information.
Other designs being featured include Fung Chan's device that helps clean the hands of patients who are unable to unfold their fingers due to suffering a stroke.
Jessica Fox’s portable garden experience called Alba helps the development of children with Cerebral Palsy through therapy.
Brunel student Lynnette Smith designed a product that helps people living with disabilities apply deodorant, pictured left. Smith's design was inspired by a letter written to the university by a family looking for a solution for their daughter with Cerebral Palsy Jessica Fox's portable garden experience called Alba helps the development of children with Cerebral Palsy through therapy. Alba is a plant pot that teaches a child about plants and their conditions, by helping them grow a plant through a light indicatorAlba is a plant pot that teaches a child about plants and their conditions by helping them grow a plant through a light indicator.
The watering jug feature is designed to encourage bi-lateral movement of the hands.
Fox said: 'The product aims to provide a therapeutic benefit both psychologically and physically, enhancing the experience.
The in-visor GPS navigation system for motorcyclists was designed by Rachel Scott-Thompson.
Flexible screens attach to a motorcycle crash helmet visor and display GPS directions to the rider, in a similar way to Google Glass.
Scott-Thomspon said: 'It offers huge safety benefits over the current situation.
'Most people will attach either their smartphone or a standard GPS to the handlebars of their motorbike.
'This means that every time they need to see the directions they have to look down at a 90-degree angle away from the road.
'Constantly drawing their eyes away from the road in this way is obviously very dangerous.
'The In-Visor GPS Navigation System means they can keep looking at the road ahead and absorb the directions almost subconsciously through their peripheral vision.'
Around 300 innovations will be featured in Made in Brunel exhibition from students and brands.
The three-day exhibition also includes workshops, design forums and talks from leading figures in the design and engineering industry.
Johnny Connor's Zen watch is fitted with sensors that monitor for increased heart rate and other biological signs of anxiety. It then alerts the wearer they are anxious and displays options to help them relieve the stress The in-visor GPS navigation system for motorcyclists was designed by Rachel Scott-Thompson. Flexible screens attach to a motorcycle crash helmet visor and display GPS directions to the rider, in a similar way to Google Glass
