Gestures in the wild

Magnus,

Yes, the Tactapad! Thanks for the link, I got nowhere with Google.

...last post, I promise.
I really hope this idea succeeds. In looking at the video, I immediately thought of my 3 year old niece. This may not end up being a practical interface for most users with current applications - it may be more of a gimmick like using your iSight to play games (ie ToySight).
But this could be an incredibly enabling technology for younger computer users, allowing them to be more creative by leveraging the benefits of technology without forcing them to learn outdated methods of computer ineraction. Eventually things could evolve away from the traditional WIMP (Window, Icon, Menu and Pointer) paradigm and lead to a more intuitive interface with our computers.
Unfortunately, by then, I think I'll be 80 years old rambling on about the days when I had to use a keyboard and a one-button mouse or when I would get stuck in "voice menu h*ll"

A good example of the "digital mixer" interface for audio apps that Apple referred to in their patent applications is the Lemur. I like the idea...
http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php

Unfotunately, the TactaPad isn't a tangible product. Well, it IS real, but it's not available as a product. The developers are looking for a buyer for their technology, their not looking to mass produce it themselves.
The other project depicting this amazing new shift in interface design is the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Diamond Touch. Check out the demo video linked to on this page:
http://www.merl.com/projects/DiamondTouch/

Here's the link Ben was refering to:
http://yexley.net/bob/images/MountHoodInWorldWind.jpg

Now if Apple could incorporate this touch (gesture) screen technology in to it's displays we'd all be interacting quite nicely with our Macs. Actually if I slide the old iMac G4's 20" LCD down to it's lowest position it wouldn't be too bad to gesture on!

Bah, the link got corrupted.
http://www.tactiva.com/tactapad.html

Eric, you are probably thinking on the TactaPad
http://www.tactiva.com/tactapad.html
The TactaPad seems more like varpoware than anything else.

One word - Wow!

As was pointed out on the digg post, the 'dock' at the top of the screen is just part of world wind, the NASA program that's being run.