File this in the "overheard at a dinner party but may actually be true" category. Nokia’s chief designer, Alastair Curtis, was at one such dinner party chomping on foie gras and sipping wine when he he was asked why Nokia’s N-series of multimedia devices have yet to receive the multi-touch treatment. Curtis responded with "We’ve not launched what we think is right for N-series in a touch product. You’ll see in the coming months, years… what we feel is right." He then proceeded to make a series of hand gestures meant to suggest a Wii-like interface for the N-series.

This could have been chalked up to some rowdy dinner guests, but a patent for a similar device was just found online. It looks like Nokia may have something up their sleeves after all. It’s a good thing Alastair Curtis hasn’t been gifted with sensitive national secrets. He gets loose lipped after a glass of Pinot or two.

Below is a speculative video of how one such device could work:

Just how lazy are we getting? As it is, we cannot get off out butts to change channels – we must have that remote. Well, now, some brainiacs have come up with a hand signal control system for your TV.

It reacts to a set of seven hand motions like clenching your fist ("start"), thumbs-up ("up"), and a sideways peace-sign ("channel"). It supposedly also can distinguish between your gestures and the movement of pets or small children.

The only useful application I can see is for the disabled and there it is a good thing.