You may have missed ...

In Britain, we have seen the development of the artificial sweaty foot, invented by a leather company in Northamptonshire to assist shoe design. According to a report, an average pair of feet will produce in a day's trekking enough sweat to fill a soft drinks can.

In Japan, however, they have developed a laptop computer that can withstand being dropped from a height of 70cm (28 inches) or having coffee spilled on it.

Other inventions this year:

From Hungary: the musical condom that plays a tune when unrolled.

From Malaysia, the "Tara Clamp", a disposable circumcision device said to resemble a corkscrew and available in different sizes to fit various ages.

From Austria, the "liquid condom", which the user paints on to provide skin-tight protection.

From Switzerland, a battery-powered suitcase on which a traveller may ride.

From Denmark, the "olf", a unit of smell for assessing environmental health and the need for ventilating the workplace.