They are in luck in British schools. The team of researchers from Durham University’s Teaching Technological Improvement Group (TEL) has created a fully-touch virtual desktop in which images and objects are handled as comfortably as on the other side of the screen. The new ? smart desk ?, as it has been baptized, recognizes movements using infrared light and, according to its creators, “will transform teaching , improve results by allowing the exchange of ideas and make classes much more fun.” And much more interactive , as can be seen from this video. “It’s like the futuristic interfaces imagined for the Star Trek television series,” compares Liz Burd, the project manager.
After testing the system with students of all ages, the software will be available to schools as free open source .
