Despite mounds and reams of sex education on offer via schools, families, other educational courses and the internet, for some people the information either can’t or won’t be received fully and gratefully. So what’s to be done? Short of tying somebody to a chair and putting them through some sex-disease ridden version of the Ludovico Technique a la A Clockwork Orange, sometimes it just doesn’t go in.

Alas, although falling short of the Ludovico method, you still need to make some people face the stark truth of what they are doing and the consequences of their actions. Now, thanks to some bright high school students from the UK things could change after they created a condom that changes colour when it comes into contact with the pathogens that cause STIs such as chlamydia or herpes.

The group of 13 and 14-year-old students won the award for Best Health Innovation at the recent TeenTech award show. Their condom – named the S.T.EYE – looks set for further development. The team told various press outlets that they hope to create a simple color-coded scheme that includes green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, purple for HPV or blue for syphilis.

The S.T.EYE works by having a chemical coating on the inside that can detect particular bacteria on the penis. Should you be unfortunate enough to have an infection, the condom will begin to glow and alert you to the problem.

Daanyaal Ali – one of the team members – said: “”We wanted to make something that makes detecting harmful STIs safer than ever before, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without the invasive procedures at the doctors.”

Although it’s unclear whether or not there are any interested manufacturers checking into this, it would be a surprise and a shame if that wasn’t the case. For now, the bright young things behind the S.T.EYE will have to make do with a £1,000 ($1,500) cash prize and a visit to Buckingham Palace.