4 Gesture navigation
4.3 Gestures design methodology

The issue of gesture recognition is not trivial. All limitations and inaccuracies that occur when recording images using various devices have to be taken into account during process of designing gestures for application or system control. The methodology for gestures design has to fulfil several requirements: naturalness, easy to remember and comfort. Comfort is the most important criterion for gesture controlled application.

As in any new field also in gesture control one of the main problems in adaptation process is nonexistent standardization. When ten random people are asked to make a gesture to start the music, it is highly likely that at least 5 different gestures are proposed. It is therefore not possible to establish a solid set of gestures that suit to everyone. This is the reason why every producer providing gesture control uses a different set of gestures. It’s difficult to practical use, since the user has to learn new gestures for any new system. The existence at least one standard set of gestures for controlling basic functions could significantly accelerate users to start using gesture control and putting into practice. Nowadays, some control gestures via television sets are offered, which are based on image sensing by 2D camera. This enables easy navigation through the menu of the TV. Despite its imperfections the educational effect on people who are gradually getting used to this kind of control is beneficial.

Also present gesture sets are based on peripheral input devices used with computers. They basically try to remove the device but keep the same usage patterns. In order to come closer to natural (touch-less) gesture-based operation the concept has to change so that gesture sets are designed from ground up, like if there were no peripherals other than sensors.