The history of human-computer interaction (HCI) has its origins with the first punch cards, which were followed by the keyboard, mouse, and joystick. In recent times, the need for hand gesture input has seen the evolution of glove-based interactions, which is the starting point for this book. Following the introduction in chapter 1, chapter 2 provides a good history of glove-based input systems that ends with the use of cameras to capture hand gestures.

The use of cameras requires images of the hand gesture to be clearly identified; this involves sophisticated software running on a computer so the final images are free from noise and background interference. While the mathematics and color theory in chapter 3 require prior knowledge, the layperson will still be able to gain valuable insight into this topic. However, chapters 4 and 5 cover feature extraction and hand gesture classification. These topics are highly technical and have in-depth mathematical concepts that are not suitable for the layperson. The discussion covers the identification of different hand gestures and the methods that can be used to extract and identify these gestures.

Chapter 6 represents the most interesting topic: it provides the reader with a reality check on the difficulties associated with interpreting hand gestures. By adopting sign languages used in the hearing-impaired environment, researchers have returned to using a glove-based input system; this is due to the complexities and varieties of sign languages. There are both static and dynamic hand movements, which can be expressed by one or both hands. This can be combined with facial expressions to produce a limited but effective vocabulary. The final chapter (7) reviews current and future trends, which show that this research has considerable scope for growth and development.

In conclusion, this book is suitable for undergraduate students because the mathematics and color theory are beyond the general layperson. Each chapter is fully referenced, pointing to other sources of related information. I recommend it for students engaged in human-computer research and those looking for an in-depth understanding of these concepts.