Boffins at Durham University today unveiled multi-touch desks which could bring a sci-fi dimension to teaching.

Their vision is that every desk in every school will be interactive in 10 years' time, to make lessons come alive and stimulate youngsters' imaginations.

Members of the university's Technology-Enhanced Learning Research Group (TEL) are designing new learning environments using the interactive multi-touch desks, which look and act like a large version of an Apple iPhone.

After observing how students and teachers interact in classes, the team set about designing an interactive classroom solution called SynergyNet.

The aim is to achieve active student engagement and learning by sharing, problem-solving and creating.

The team has linked up with manufacturers to design software, and desks that recognize multiple touches on the desktop, using vision systems that can see infrared light.

SynergyNet will integrate ICT into the fabric of the classroom with the new multi-touch desks linked to a main smartboard and several students will be able to work together.

Dr Liz Burd, director of active learning in computing at Durham University, said: "IT in schools is an exciting prospect – our system is very similar to the type of interface shown as a vision of the future in the TV series Star Trek.

"The new desk can be both a screen and a keyboard, it can act like a multi-touch whiteboard. It offers fantastic scope for more participative teaching and learning."

She said the system would boost equal access in school and more students with special needs would be able to participate in lessons.

After testing the system with students of all ages, the software will be available to schools for free.

TEL in Computing is the largest funded research study to look at multi-touch interactive systems for education. Durham researchers were awarded £1.5million to design the system and software.

Over the next four years it will be tested with students from primary and secondary schools and university.

Dr Andrew Hatch, from Durham's TEL research group, said: "It changes the move-to-use principle; instead the computer becomes part of the desk.

"It's a practical change that will provide a creative interface for life-long learning for all students."