Hand Tracking Virtual Boundary Detection

This project implements real-time hand tracking and virtual boundary detection using MediaPipe and OpenCV, optimized for macOS systems.

Overview

The application uses your Mac's webcam to track hand movements and detect when they cross into a designated "danger zone". A visual warning system with striped patterns indicates when hands enter restricted areas.

Features

• Real-time hand tracking with 21 points per hand
• Visual danger zone with dynamic striped pattern
• Automatic boundary violation detection
• Support for both built-in FaceTime camera and external webcams
• Visual feedback when hands cross the boundary

Prerequisites

• macOS system
• Python 3.9 or higher
• Built-in FaceTime camera or external webcam
• Internet connection (for initial package downloads)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone [repository-url]
cd [repository-name]

2. Make the setup script executable:

chmod +x setup_and_run.sh

3. Run the setup script:

./setup_and_run.sh

The script automatically:

• Creates a Python virtual environment
• Installs required dependencies
• Launches the application

Usage

When you run the application:

1. A window opens showing your webcam feed
2. The right portion of the screen shows a striped "danger zone"
3. Hand movements are tracked with:
   • Green dots for joint positions
   • Red lines connecting the joints
4. The striped pattern becomes more visible when any hand joint enters the danger zone
5. Press 'q' to quit the application

Technical Details

The application uses:

• MediaPipe for precise hand landmark detection
• OpenCV for video capture and visualization
• Custom boundary detection algorithm
• Dynamic visual feedback system

Project Structure

. ├── hand_tracker.py # Main application code ├── requirements.txt # Python dependencies ├── setup_and_run.sh # Setup and launch script └── .gitignore # Git ignore rules

## Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Camera not opening:
   - Check if other applications can access your webcam
   - Close other applications that might be using the camera
   - The app will try alternative camera indices automatically

2. Performance issues:
   - Ensure good lighting conditions
   - Keep hands within camera view
   - Close resource-intensive applications

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to:
- Report bugs
- Suggest features
- Submit pull requests

## License

[Your chosen license]

## Acknowledgments

- MediaPipe team for the hand tracking solution
- OpenCV community for computer vision tools