Like it or loathe it, like a good portion of modern consumables, Apple’s iPad is far from the most robust pieces of technology, and the day it finally gives in to the strains you impart on it is something we all fear.

Where aesthetics and ergonomics often come at the cost of shock absorption and damage proofing, it’s no wonder accessory manufacturers have enjoyed terrific growth in the wake of ever more expensive, yet ever more everyday, electronic gadgets; from smartphones, to tablets and immensely popular e-book readers. Meanwhile, companies such as Motorola have built whole marketing campaigns around the ruggedness of its phones – such as in the case of its ‘Defy’ handset which was labelled, hyperbolically perhaps, as ‘life proof’.