Hand Volume Control

📖 Overview

Hand Volume Control is a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) project that enables contactless audio management using computer vision. By leveraging OpenCV and MediaPipe, this application tracks hand landmarks in real-time to translate physical gestures into system volume commands.

This project eliminates the need for physical peripherals, offering a seamless and futuristic way to interact with media devices.

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✨ Key Features

• Real-Time Tracking: Low-latency hand detection and landmark tracking.
• Gesture Recognition: Intuitive mapping of vertical hand movements to volume levels.
• Mute Toggle: Quick "Fist" gesture recognition for instant muting/unmuting.
• Cross-Platform Architecture: Designed for Windows (via Pycaw) with adaptable architecture for macOS/Linux.
• Configurable Sensitivity: User-defined sensitivity thresholds via a JSON configuration file.

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🛠️ Tech Stack

• Language: Python 3.8+
• Computer Vision: OpenCV (cv2), MediaPipe
• Audio Control: Pycaw (Python Core Audio Windows Library)
• Math/Processing: NumPy

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🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Hardware:
  • PC/Laptop with a working webcam (Integrated or USB).
• Software:
  • Python 3.8 or higher installed.

Installation

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/username/hand-volume-control.git
   cd hand-volume-control

2. Set up a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended)

   python -m venv venv
   # Windows
   venv\Scripts\activate
   # macOS/Linux
   source venv/bin/activate

3. Install Dependencies

   pip install -r requirements.txt

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🕹️ Usage

1. Run the Application Execute the main script to start the webcam feed:

   python hand_volume_control.py

2. Control Guide Ensure your hand is clearly visible in the camera frame (good lighting recommended).

Gesture	Action	Description
Move Hand Up ⬆️	Volume UP	Raise your open hand vertically to increase volume.
Move Hand Down ⬇️	Volume DOWN	Lower your open hand vertically to decrease volume.
Clench Fist ✊	Mute / Unmute	Quickly close your hand into a fist to toggle audio.

3. Exit Press q or Esc to close the application window.

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⚙️ Configuration

You can fine-tune the tracking sensitivity and volume range by modifying the config.json file in the root directory.

{
  "sensitivity": 0.5,
  "camera_index": 0,
  "volume_range": [0, 100],
  "detection_confidence": 0.7
}

• sensitivity: Adjusts the responsiveness of volume changes relative to hand movement speed.
• camera_index: Set to 0 for default webcam, 1 for external, etc.
• volume_range: Defines the min/max limits for the system volume.

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🔧 Troubleshooting

• Camera Not Detected:
  • Ensure no other application (Zoom, Teams, etc.) is currently using the webcam.
  • Try changing the camera_index in config.json.
• Gestures Not Recognized:
  • Ensure the environment is well-lit.
  • Keep your hand within 0.5 - 1.0 meters of the camera.
• Audio Not Changing (Windows):
  • Verify pycaw is installed correctly.
  • Run the script as Administrator if permission issues persist.

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🤝 Contributions

Contributions are always welcome! If you have ideas for new gestures or platform support (macOS/Linux):

1. Fork the Project.
2. Create your Feature Branch (git checkout -b feature/NewGesture).
3. Commit your Changes (git commit -m 'Add some NewGesture').
4. Push to the Branch (git push origin feature/NewGesture).
5. Open a Pull Request.

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📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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🙌 Acknowledgements

• MediaPipe by Google for the robust hand-tracking architecture.
• [Pycaw](https://github.com/ AndreMiras/pycaw) for the Windows audio control interface.
• OpenCV for image processing utilities.