A Real-time Hand Gesture Recognition and Human-Computer Interaction System (1704.07296v1)

Abstract: In this project, we design a real-time human-computer interaction system based on hand gesture. The whole system consists of three components: hand detection, gesture recognition and human-computer interaction (HCI) based on recognition; and realizes the robust control of mouse and keyboard events with a higher accuracy of gesture recognition. Specifically, we use the convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize gestures and makes it attainable to identify relatively complex gestures using only one cheap monocular camera. We introduce the Kalman filter to estimate the hand position based on which the mouse cursor control is realized in a stable and smooth way. During the HCI stage, we develop a simple strategy to avoid the false recognition caused by noises - mostly transient, false gestures, and thus to improve the reliability of interaction. The developed system is highly extendable and can be used in human-robotic or other human-machine interaction scenarios with more complex command formats rather than just mouse and keyboard events.

• The paper demonstrates a convolutional neural network achieving over 99.8% accuracy on classifying 16 static hand gestures.
• It integrates advanced image preprocessing and Kalman filtering to stabilize gesture-based cursor control.
• The system’s real-time performance and low-cost hardware highlight its promising applications in human-computer and human-robot interaction.

Overview of "A Real-time Hand Gesture Recognition and Human-Computer Interaction System"

This paper presents a real-time hand gesture recognition system designed for human-computer interaction (HCI) with the application potential extending into human-robot interaction. The system is structured around three core components: hand detection, gesture recognition, and interaction based on recognized gestures. The authors employ a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize hand gestures, demonstrating that complex gestures can be identified using just a single, affordable monocular camera. The system also incorporates a Kalman filter for estimating hand positions to facilitate stable and smooth mouse cursor control.

Gesture Recognition Methodology

Hand gesture recognition is framed as a classification problem, with CNNs employed to automate feature learning from raw input data. Traditional gesture recognition methods relied on predefined feature extraction techniques, such as orientation histograms, hidden Markov models, particle filtering, and SVMs. In contrast, this paper applies CNN-based recognition, allowing the model to automatically learn nuanced features directly from images. The authors describe a CNN inspired by LeNet-5 with two convolutional layers, each followed by a max-pooling layer, culminating in two fully connected layers. The CNN is trained on a dataset of 16 static gesture types, achieving an impressively high accuracy rate of over 99.8%.

Hand Detection and Preprocessing

One critical aspect of this system is the preprocessing of hand images to enhance recognition accuracy. The authors discuss various image processing techniques, including background subtraction, hand color filtering, Gaussian blurring, and morphological transformations, which collectively prepare the images for input into the CNN. They emphasize the importance of robust hand detection, outlining methods for estimating hand center and palm radius to adequately segment the hand from the background.

Gesture-Based Interaction and Cursor Control

The system's interaction scheme efficiently translates recognized gestures into computer commands. The mouse cursor, controlled through gestures, is further stabilized by implementing a Kalman filter, addressing challenges inherent in hand-based control such as instability and jitter. The Kalman filter smooths cursor movements, enhancing the system's usability for tasks requiring precise cursor control.

System Robustness and Noise Filtering

The paper acknowledges potential issues with transient gestures during gesture transition periods and employs a probabilistic model to enhance interaction reliability. This probabilistic model functions by analyzing sequences of recognized gestures, safeguarding against erroneous system responses to brief, unintended gestures. As such, the system is shown to maintain reliable operation amidst natural hand movement variability.

Implications and Future Work

The research opens promising avenues for gesture-based HCI systems, particularly emphasizing cost-effectiveness and real-time processing capabilities. The system's adaptability to scenarios involving complex command structures, like human-robotic interaction, suggests significant application potential. The authors further demonstrate the system's adaptability by interfacing it with a Robot Operating System (ROS) setup to control a simulated robot, indicating practical viability beyond mere mouse and keyboard emulation.

Future development will likely focus on extending gesture recognition to dynamic, continuous motions and refining interaction modeling for more complex application environments. Enhancements in hardware could further improve system resilience and computational throughput, enabling even broader adoption of gesture-based interaction technologies.