Those videos are both compelling and unbelievable. The technology will be there, of course, but I don't see it working like that. I still use a mouse. I can't copy and paste text, or edit images very easily with a touchpad. I can imagine moving a graph around with the swipe of my hand, but then sneezing and blowing my pie chart to smithereens.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/vision/ That video was discussed a bit ago here: http://hubski.com/pub?id=7377 cgod is probably referring to that.
Pictures Under Glass is an interaction paradigm of permanent numbness. It's a Novocaine drip to the wrist. It denies our hands what they do best. And yet, it's the star player in every Vision Of The Future. I've never considered this before and although I'm not sure how technology/design can implement the tactile nature of real interaction in to future design, I'm glad to be thinking about it. The future is a choice. -I'll be thinking on this. Great post.