Gesture Recognition-Based System for Non-Touch Task Control

Dr. Archana Kumar Hitesh Jha

New Delhi, Delhi, India New Delhi, Delhi, India
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract

The research paper discussed in this paper introduces a hand-

knob control system for the non-touch interaction as it uses
advanced computer vision techniques. The designer chose to
implement this system by adopting the Mediapipe's stable
hand tracking framework and OpenCV for real-time video
processing. The combination of the growing demand for
contactless devices, especially in times of global pandemic
health crises and the need for solutions for accessibility, our
Figure 1. Shows some common hand gestures which can be easily
system is a unique approach to Human-Computer Interaction recognized by systems.
(HCI). The suggested system helps in endowing specific hand levarages two key technologies: Mediapipe and OpenCV.
gestures such as the movement of the cursor, scrolling, Mediapipe developed by Google, provides a
selection, etc., thus, eliminating the problem of using the touch state-of-the-art framework for real-time hand landmark
and extra hardware. The main features are the performance of detection, while OpenCV serves as a robust tool for image and
real-time, the high accuracy, and the possibility of things video processing. By combining these technologies, our
working fine in changing situations. The experimental tests system achieves high accuracy and responsiveness, making it
showed the recognition accuracy over 95%, with zero latency suitable for real-world applications.
under optimal conditions, which means it can be used for The system is designed with accessibility and user-friendliness
practical applications. The possible applications related to the in mind. It translates specific hand gestures into actionable
system are supporting and accessibility tools for physically commands. For instance, a 'V' shape formed by the index and
challenged people, and even in gaming Systems. middle fingers enables scrolling, while hand movements
control cursor positioning. Such intuitive mappings make the
Keyword-- Gesture Recognition, Mediapipe, OpenCV, system easy to learn and use, even for individuals with limited
technical expertise.
Deep Learning, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality
The motivation behind this work lies in addressing two major
(VR).
challenges:
1. Accessibility: Many individuals, such as those with
Abbreviations—HCI (Human- computer Interaction) physical disabilities, face difficulties in using
CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), RNN (Recurrent traditional input devices like keyboards and mice.
Neural Network), ROI (Region of Interest) Gesture-based systems can provide an alternative
that is both convenient and empowering.
1. Introduction 2. Hygiene and Contactless Interaction: In public
spaces and shared environments, minimizing
The development phase of Human-Computer Interaction physical contact with surfaces is crucial to prevent
(HCI) may be described in terms of few fundamental steps. It the spread of germs and viruses.
is the displacement of the command line interface by the This paper explores the development and implementation of
graphical user interface and the beginning of the technology of our gesture recognition system, highlighting its potential
touch screen devices that mark the landmarks. But nowadays, applications and the challenges encountered during its
gesture-based control systems have offered to users a different development. We evaluate its performance in terms of
way of interacting with computer applications. These accuracy, latency, and usability, demonstrating its viability as
interfaces have not only created a better user experience but a practical solution for gesture-based interaction.
also solved problems in sanitation and access, that might occur The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2
in situations where physical contacts are inappropriate. reviews the existing literature on gesture recognition systems,
Section 3 details the methodology and system architecture,
Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has made people Section 4 focuses on the Future aspects of the model and the
realize how critical contactless technologies are. In this work, system, Section 5 admires the overall conclusion of the
we present a gesture-based project that allows users to navigate research paper and Section 6 follows up with all the references
and physically interact. Our system used in the Paper.

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into future directions for research and development. relevance in real-world scenarios.
Through this work, we aim to contribute to the growing field of 6. Limitations of Existing Systems
gesture recognition and inspire further innovations in creating Despite significant progress, existing gesture recognition
intuitive, accessible, and efficient non-touch interaction systems. systems face several challenges:
• Environmental Sensitivity: Variations in lighting
2. Related work and background conditions often affect the
accuracy of vision-based systems.
Gesture recognition systems have been the focus of extensive • Gesture Complexity: Recognizing complex or
research and development, given their potential to revolutionize dynamic gestures remains a challenging task,
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This section provides an particularly in multi-user scenarios.
overview of related works, emphasizing methodologies, • Latency: Achieving real-time performance
technologies, and applications relevant to the proposed system. without compromising accuracy is essential for
1. Gesture Recognition for Human-Computer Interaction practical applications.
[1] Previous studies have explored the use of gesture recognition Relevance to the Proposed System
as an intuitive interface for interacting with devices. Early The proposed system builds upon the strengths of
systems primarily relied on hardware-based solutions, such as Mediapipe and OpenCV, addressing limitations observed
data gloves equipped with sensors to detect hand movements. in previous works. By designing intuitive and simple
While effective, these systems were costly and intrusive, limiting gestures, the system reduces complexity while maintaining
their adoption in practical applications. Recent advancements in high accuracy. Additionally, the use of efficient algorithms
computer vision have shifted the focus toward software-based ensures real-time responsiveness, making the system
solutions that leverage cameras for gesture detection, offering a suitable for diverse applications, including accessibility
more affordable and user-friendly alternative. tools and smart environments.
2. Mediapipe Framework for Hand Tracking This work aims to bridge the gap between existing
The introduction of Google's Mediapipe framework marked a research and practical implementation, providing a robust,
significant milestone in gesture recognition research. Mediapipe affordable, and scalable solution for gesture-based
provides a real-time hand tracking solution using a machine interaction.
learning pipeline that detects and tracks 21 hand landmarks.
Studies utilizing Mediapipe have demonstrated its high accuracy 3. Model Description
and robustness across various applications, from virtual reality The gesture recognition system is designed to enable
interfaces to sign language recognition. Its lightweight intuitive and real-time interaction between a user and a
architecture and ease of integration have made it a preferred computer without physical touch. It leverages two key
choice for gesture recognition systems. technologies—Mediapipe and OpenCV—integrating
3. OpenCV in Computer Vision them into a pipeline that efficiently tracks hand
[14] OpenCV, an open-source computer vision library, has been movements, maps gestures, and executes corresponding
extensively used for image and video processing in gesture actions. This section provides a detailed description of the
recognition research. Its diverse functionalities, including edge model, highlighting its architecture, key components, and
detection, color filtering, and contour analysis, enable efficient the algorithms and techniques used to ensure high
implementation of gesture-based systems. Researchers have accuracy and real-time performance.
combined OpenCV with machine learning frameworks to
enhance the accuracy and adaptability of gesture recognition System Architecture
systems, showcasing its versatility in HCI projects. The system consists of the following components:
4. Accessibility Applications 1. Input Acquisition: A standard webcam captures
Several studies have highlighted the role of gesture-based real-time video frames.
systems in improving accessibility for individuals with physical 2. Preprocessing: The captured frames undergo
disabilities. For example, research on using hand gestures for processing to enhance input quality and reduce
controlling wheelchairs or prosthetic devices has demonstrated noise.
the potential of such systems to empower users. Similarly, 3. Hand Detection and Tracking: Mediapipe is
gesture-controlled interfaces for computers and smart devices employed to detect and track hand landmarks in
have shown promise in reducing reliance on traditional input real time.
methods, making technology more inclusive. 4. Gesture Recognition: Specific hand gestures
5. Contactless Interaction Technologies are identified based on the spatial arrangement
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the demand for contactless of the detected landmarks.
technologies, leading to innovations in gesture-based control 5. Action Mapping: Recognized gestures are
systems. Research in this area has focused on enabling touchless mapped to predefined tasks, such as cursor
interactions in public spaces, such as airports, shopping malls, movement or scrolling.
and hospitals, where hygiene is critical. Gesture recognition 6. Output Execution: The System executes the
systems have been deployed in kiosks, vending machines, and desired action (e.g., moving the cursor or
elevators, showcasing their practicality and scrolling the screen)

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Key Technologies and Techniques 2. Scrolling Algorithm
1. Mediapipe for Hand Landmark Detection • A 'V' shape gesture is recognized by analyzing
Mediapipe’s Hand Tracking module detects 21 key the distance and angles between the index and
landmarks on the user’s hand, including joints and middle fingers.
fingertips. The pipeline involves: • The direction of scrolling is determined by the
o Palm Detection: A region of interest (ROI) orientation of the hand:
containing the hand is identified using a single- o Right hand for scrolling up.
shot detector (SSD). o Left hand for scrolling down.
o Hand Landmark Localization: The ROI is • Trick: Using relative landmark positions instead
refined, and 21 landmarks are extracted using of absolute positions to make the system
regression models. invariant to the hand’s size and position.
o Multi-Hand Support: Mediapipe can
simultaneously detect and track multiple 3. Gesture Detection with Landmark Ratios
hands, but this system focuses on single-hand • Gestures are recognized by calculating
control for simplicity. distances, angles, and relative positions between
Tricks and Optimizations: key landmarks.
o Dynamic ROI Adjustment: The ROI for • Example: A pinch gesture is detected when the
subsequent frames is dynamically updated distance between the thumb tip and index finger
based on the hand’s position in the current tip is below a certain threshold.
frame, reducing computational overhead. Optimization:
o Confidence Thresholds: Detection and • Only a subset of landmarks (e.g., fingertips) is
tracking confidence thresholds are set to used to reduce computational complexity while
eliminate false positives. maintaining accuracy.
2. OpenCV for Preprocessing and Visualization
OpenCV is used for:
o Frame Capturing: Reading video frames from
the webcam.
o Preprocessing: Converting frames to RGB Figure 3. Shows the Gesture Detection Algorithm
format (required by Mediapipe) and resizing 4. Latency Optimization
for faster processing. • The pipeline is optimized to maintain real-time
o Visualization: Overlaying the detected performance (<50 ms/frame):
landmarks and visual feedback (e.g., cursor o Frames are processed at a reduced
position) on the video stream. frame rate if system load increases.
Optimizations: o Multi-threading is employed to handle
o Real-time performance is achieved by limiting video capture and gesture processing in
the resolution of input frames to balance parallel.
processing speed and detection accuracy. Model Output
• Real-Time Feedback: Visual feedback on the
Algorithms and Tricks for Gesture Recognition
video stream (e.g., highlighting the detected
1. Cursor Movement Algorithm
landmarks and gestures).
o The hand's center position is derived from the
• Action Execution: Performing tasks like
coordinates of the wrist and middle fingertip
scrolling, cursor movement, and selection with
landmarks.
minimal latency and high accuracy.
o The coordinates are normalized to the screen’s
resolution to control the cursor accurately.
o Trick: Smoothing algorithms (e.g., exponential 4. Suggestion for Future Work
moving average) are applied to reduce jitter
and ensure smooth cursor movement. While the proposed gesture recognition system
demonstrates robust performance and practical
applications, there are several areas for improvement and
expansion. Future work can focus on the following
aspects to enhance the system's functionality, accuracy,
and usability:
Figure 2. Shows the cursor Movement Algorithm

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 5. Conclusion
1. Expanding Gesture Vocabulary
• Current Limitation: The system recognizes a limited The development of gesture recognition systems
number of gestures for predefined tasks. represents a significant step toward more intuitive and
• Future Work: Incorporate a broader range of gestures natural human-computer interaction. This research
to support more complex tasks, such as multi-finger presents a robust and user-friendly system that leverages
interactions, dynamic gestures (e.g., drawing shapes), the power of Mediapipe and OpenCV to enable real-time
and multi-hand gestures. This expansion can make the gesture recognition and task execution. By incorporating
system more versatile and adaptable to diverse state-of-the-art hand tracking technology, efficient
applications. algorithms, and optimized action mapping, the proposed
system achieves high accuracy and responsiveness,
making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
The system demonstrates its utility in tasks such as cursor
movement, scrolling, and other computer interactions,
providing a contactless and hygienic alternative to
traditional input devices. Its lightweight architecture and
reliance on readily available hardware ensure
affordability and ease of adoption, making it accessible to
diverse users.
Figure 4. Shows the working page of the Model While the current system performs effectively in
2. Enhancing Environmental Robustness controlled environments, challenges such as
environmental sensitivity, gesture complexity, and
• Current Limitation: Performance can be affected by
scalability highlight areas for future improvement.
environmental factors, such as lighting variations,
Suggestions for expanding the gesture vocabulary,
background clutter, or occlusions.
incorporating advanced machine learning techniques, and
• Future Work: Implement adaptive algorithms, such as
enhancing environmental robustness provide a roadmap
dynamic thresholding and background subtraction, to
for further research and development. Additionally, the
mitigate these issues. Training the system on a diverse
potential applications of this technology in accessibility,
dataset with varying environmental conditions can also
AR/VR, robotics, and smart environments underline its
improve robustness.
transformative impact on both personal and professional
domains.
3. Incorporating Machine Learning for Gesture Recognition
In conclusion, the proposed gesture recognition system
• Current Limitation: Gesture recognition is based on serves as a foundational step in advancing contactless
heuristic algorithms using landmark positions. interaction technologies. With continued research and
• Future Work: Utilize deep learning models, such as innovation, such systems can play a pivotal role in
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) or Recurrent shaping the future of human-computer interaction,
Neural Networks (RNNs), for more sophisticated offering seamless, intuitive, and inclusive solutions for
gesture recognition. These models can generalize better diverse needs and scenarios.
to unseen gestures and handle complex temporal
patterns in dynamic gestures.
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