Low cost flex powered gesture detection system and its applications

A hand gesture is a non-verbal means of communication involving motion of fingers to convey information. Hand gesture are used in sign language and are a way of communication for deaf and mute people. Common public most often is unable to understand the sign language. So, in this paper we aim to provide an electronic method for hand gesture recognition which is cost effective, this system makes use of flex sensors, on-board gyroscope and accelerometer. A flex sensor works on the principle of change in the internal resistance to detect the angle made by the user's finger at any given time. The flexes made by hand in different combinations amount to a gesture and this gesture can be converted into speech signals or as a text display to aid physically challenged people. A smart glove is designed which has an Arduino circuit which is equipped with the custom-made flex sensors, an on-board gyroscope and an accelerometer, out of which the last two components are used to supplement the gestures detected by a flex sensor.