For internet addicts, it could be the ultimate way to stay in touch - an entire apartment turned into a giant, online screen.

The walls show Facebook updates, and life-sized friends during video chats.

It can also be controlled from anywhere - even bed - using gestures or speech.

The system works uses projectors and sensors already available.

'The hardware is complete but only 40 percent of the software is finished,' said Ion Cuervas-Mons, director of Think Big Factory, a Spanish design agency which created the project.

'Everything in the house can be used to communicate, the interface is ubiquitous.

'Through projections that are activated by the presence of a person, we can control everything with the movement of the hands: the lights; turning on any electrical household appliances; music; even connecting to Skype for a conference from any part of the house.'

The system aims to replace the current slew of keyboards and remote controls needed to interact with technology.

However, Mr Cuervas-Mons claims much of the technology will be invisible.

'I don’t think that an Openarch home is going to look any different,' he said.

'New technologies must be non-intrusive and natural.'

Mr Cuervas-Mons says the first inhabitant has already moved into the experimental apartment.

'He is using some parts of the house, and we are learning from that.

'The main interface is in the living room, where you can see social networks, magazines, and play music just using gestures,' he said.

The prototype uses sensing cameras such as Microsoft's Kinect to track users, allowing them to swipe in mid air to move through menus.

The project started three years ago, and the prototype built in an apartment in the North of Spain, all using existing technology.

'Now we have around 40% of the applications actually running - and we hope to finish soon, then begin developing products so people can actually begin using it.'

(Read by Brian Salter. Brian Salter is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Source: dailymail)