James Dyson Award finalists 2010

Last Friday, at the Australian International Design Awards, the winners from the Australian leg of the James Dyson Award for young inventors were crowned. CNET Australia was on hand to speak to the finalists about their creations.

All of this year's Australian finalists go through to the international stage of the competition where they will go head-to-head with entrants from the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Japan and New Zealand. Public voting closes on July 1, UK time.

We spoke with most of the inventors before the awards ceremony about their designs; scroll down the relevant page to see the video interviews.

Liam Ferguson form Monash University set to work on a new style of fire reconnaissance vehicle after his experiences of the Black Saturday bushfires outside of Melbourne in 2009.

Two high powered jets aim to quench the fire.

The University of NSW's Samuel Adeloju designed a device that can fire a life-preserver at a person struggling in the water.

Hold, aim it, release the safety and then fire the life buoy.

According to Benjamin McMahon from the University of Technology, Sydney, the most effective parts of a blade fan are those near the outer perimeter described by the blades. So he's designed a fan that's "essentially entirely perimeter". More than that it reminds us of a Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao.

With many pubs streaming two, three or more sporting events simultaneously, Tim McBride (University of Technology, Sydney) wondered if there was a way for all patrons to listen to the commentary of their sport of choice without drowning in a wall of sound. The 13th Man wireless speaker system is his solution for beer-swilling sports fans.

Damien Azzopardi from the University of Technology, Sydney, came up with Tread as an efficient way for bicycle riders to track and share routes with other cyclists.

Maximilian Aji Wijoyoseno from the Swinburne University of Technology designed the GMD X4, an easier to use glucose monitoring system, after hearing of a Parkinson's patient who struggled with current methods.

A portable scaffolding winch designed by Monash University's Alex Matthews to ease the transportation of goods around building sites.

Justine Smith from the University of NSW designed this garment to help lessen chronic back pain after seeing her dad suffer from it.

Beer kegs are big heavy things with a pressurised carbon dioxide system. Hoping to reduce the environmental impact of beer, Thomas Hussey (University of Technology, Sydney) came up with a beer cask (similar to ones used for wine) that somehow manages to keep the bubbles and freshness in.

Ryan Kirkpatrick from the University of Western Sydney tackled the stigma that's often attached to wearing hearing aids by designing one that doubles as a fashion accessory.

Shane Talbot of the University of Technology, Sydney, has reinvented the oar-lock used by rowers improving not only boat speed by also the connection between the rower, boat and water.

Bryce Killen's (Newcastle University) take on the speed bump is filled with Thixotropic fluids so anyone driving over the dynamic speed bump at the posted limit or lower is rewarded with nary a jolt; speeders suffer the usual jarring sensation.

Gonzalo Portas' (University of NSW) Pulse heart transporter is not only compact but keeps blood pumping through the transported heart. Electronic controls and displays allow staff to assess the condition of the heart during its move.