UK broadband provider TalkTalk and Goldsmiths, University of London, have launched a new series of 'concept' routers.

The designs, which were created by students at the world famous college, aim to spruce up the image of broadband routers and bring them to the forefront of the home.

Considering signal strength, home style, energy-efficiency and enjoyment, students working on the Routers of the Future project attempted to create devices that are 'sexy' as well as functional.

Among the finished results was the Jellyfish, a broadband router which takes its inspiration from the sea and provides each user with a central hub through which they can connect to one another.

It also boasts the same fluorescent characteristics as a jellyfish - taking on the form of the underwater creature.

"This is our craziest design and we were given full creative license. We wanted to place the router at the centre of the community, at the heart of the house," the Goldsmiths team said.

Other designs included Route O' Clock, a 24-hour clock that provides a visual display of the way in which broadband signal strength varies throughout the day, and the Hybrid Router, which looks like a retro '60s hardwood table.

TalkTalk's Mark Schmid said: "Working with the design boffins at Goldsmiths, we wanted to transform the humble router into something that people would want to shout about."

Earlier this month, the internet service provider announced the successful acquisition of Tiscali UK, making TalkTalk the country's biggest provider with over four million customers.