Vision-based hand-gesture applications

Abstract

There is strong evidence that future human-computer interfaces will enable more natural, intuitive communication between people and all kinds of sensor-based devices, thus more closely resembling human-human communication. Progress in the field of human-computer interaction has introduced innovative technologies that empower users to interact with computer systems in increasingly natural and intuitive ways; systems adopting them show increased efficiency, speed, power, and realism. However, users comfortable with traditional interaction methods like mice and keyboards are often unwilling to embrace new, alternative interfaces. Ideally, new interface technologies should be more accessible without requiring long periods of learning and adaptation. They should also provide more natural human-machine communication. As described in Myron Krueger’s pioneering 1991 book Artificial Reality “natural interaction” means voice and gesture. Pursuing this vision requires tools and features that mimic the principles of human communication. Employing hand-gesture communication, such interfaces have been studied and developed by many researchers over the past 30 years in multiple application areas. It is thus worthwhile to review these efforts and identify the requirements needed to win general social acceptance.