Yet another laptop-related news item from european IFA coverage: Toshiba has a demonstration of a Qosmio laptop that recognizes hand movements and converts them into commands for its HD DVD player. Using the built-in webcam, the laptop interprets hand gestures such as a flat palm for pause, as well as gestures for play, rewind, etc.

I can see how this is useful for a laptop because you may not have a remote control when watchng movies on it. On the other hand, I’ve also been to plenty of tradeshows where people come up with technology demos just ’cause.

I am sure I know the first gesture a Blu-ray fan would make…

• Toshiba developing gesture recognition for HD DVD