Attributes:
Methods:
The Hand class reports the physical characteristics of a detected hand.
Hand tracking data includes a palm position and velocity; vectors for the palm normal and direction to the fingers; properties of a sphere fit to the hand; and lists of the attached fingers.
The following example gets the rightmost hand from a HandList object and accesses some basic hand attributes:
hand = frame.hands.rightmost
position = hand.palm_position
velocity = hand.palm_velocity
direction = hand.direction
Note that Hand objects can be invalid, which means that they do not contain valid tracking data and do not correspond to a physical entity. Invalid Hand objects can be the result of asking for a Hand object using an ID from an earlier frame when no Hand objects with that ID exist in the current frame. A Hand object created from the Hand constructor is also invalid. Test for validity with the Hand.is_valid property.
New in version 1.0.
Constructs a Hand object.
An uninitialized hand is considered invalid. Get valid Hand objects from a Frame object.
New in version 1.0.
type: Arm The arm to which this hand is attached.
If the arm is not completely in view, Arm attributes are estimated based on the attributes of entities that are in view combined with typical human anatomy.
New in version 2.0.3.
| Type: | Matrix |
|---|
The basis vectors of the hand, stored in a matrix.
The basis specifies the orientation of the hand and is defined as follows:
Note: Since the left hand is a mirror of the right hand, the basis matrix is left-handed for left hands. Thus, the positive direction of the x-basis is to the right for the right hand and to the left for the left hand. You can change from right-hand to left-hand rule by multiplying the basis vectors by -1.
basis = hand.basis
x_basis = basis.x_basis
y_basis = basis.y_basis
z_basis = basis.z_basis
New in version 2.0.
type: float How well the internal hand model fits the observed data.
A low value indicates that there are significant discrepancies; finger positions, even hand identification could be incorrect. The significance of the confidence value to your application can vary with context. For example, gestures and motions can be valid even without a high confidence in the hand data.
confidence = hand.confidence
New in version 2.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The direction from the palm position toward the fingers.
The direction is expressed as a unit vector pointing in the same direction as the directed line from the palm position to the fingers.
hand_direction = hand.direction
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | FingerList |
|---|
The list of Finger objects detected in this frame that are attached to this hand, given in arbitrary order. The list can be empty if no fingers attached to this hand are detected.
# hand is a Leap.Hand object
pointables = hand.pointables
fingers = hand.fingers
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Frame |
|---|
The associated Frame object, if available; otherwise, an invalid Frame object.
frame_for_hand = hand.frame
New in version 1.0.
type: float
The strength of a grab hand pose as a value in the range [0..1].
An open hand has a grab strength of zero. As a hand closes into a fist, its grab strength increases to one.
strength = hand.grab_strength
New in version 2.0.
| Type: | integer |
|---|
A unique ID assigned to this Hand object, whose value remains the same across consecutive frames while the tracked hand remains visible. If tracking is lost (for example, when a hand is occluded by another hand or when it is withdrawn from or reaches the edge of the Leap Motion Controller field of view), the Leap Motion software may assign a new ID when it detects the hand in a future frame.
Use the ID value with the Frame.hand() function to find this Hand object in future frames.
hand_identifier = hand.id
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | boolean |
|---|
Identifies whether this Hand is a left hand.
hand_name = "Left hand" if hand.is_left else "Right hand"
New in version 2.0.
| Type: | boolean |
|---|
Identifies whether this Hand is a right hand.
if hand.is_right:
# .. Do right handed stuff
New in version 2.0.
| Type: | boolean |
|---|
Reports whether this is a valid Hand object.
if hand.is_valid:
#Process hand data...
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The normal vector to the palm. If your hand is flat, this vector will point downward, or “out” of the front surface of your palm.
The direction is expressed as a unit vector pointing in the same direction as the palm normal (that is, a vector orthogonal to the palm).
normal = hand.palm_normal
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The center position of the palm in millimeters from the Leap Motion Controller origin.
hand_center = hand.palm_position
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The rate of change of the palm position in millimeters/second.
hand_speed = hand.palm_velocity
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | float |
|---|
The average width of the hand (not including fingers or thumb).
hand_width = hand.palm_width
New in version 2.0.
type: float
The strength of a pinch pose between the thumb and the closest finger tip as a value in the range [0..1].
An open, flat hand has a grab strength of zero. As the tip of the thumb approaches the tip of a finger, the pinch strength increases to one.
pinch = hand.pinch_strength
New in version 2.0.
| Type: | PointableList |
|---|
The list of Pointable objects (fingers) detected in this frame that are associated with this hand, given in arbitrary order. The list always has five fingers, even if the user is missing digits.
pointables_for_hand = hand.pointables
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The center of a sphere fit to the curvature of this hand.
This sphere is placed roughly as if the hand were holding a ball.
sphere_center = hand.sphere_center
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | float |
|---|
The radius of a sphere fit to the curvature of this hand.
This sphere is placed roughly as if the hand were holding a ball. Thus the size of the sphere decreases as the fingers are curled into a fist.
sphere_diameter = 2 * hand.sphere_radius
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Vector |
|---|
The stabilized palm position of this Hand.
Smoothing and stabilization is performed in order to make this value more suitable for interaction with 2D content. The stabilized position lags behind the palm position by a variable amount, depending primarily on the speed of movement.
filtered_hand_position = hand.stabilized_palm_position
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | float |
|---|
The duration of time this Hand has been visible to the Leap Motion Controller.
lifetime_of_this_hand_object = hand.time_visible
New in version 1.0.
The Finger object with the specified ID attached to this hand.
Use this function to retrieve a Finger object attached to this hand using an ID value obtained from a previous frame. This function always returns a Finger object, but if no finger with the specified ID is present, an invalid Finger object is returned.
finger_on_hand_by_ID = hand.finger(finger_ID)
Note that ID values persist across frames, but only until tracking of a particular object is lost. If tracking of a finger is lost and subsequently regained, the new Finger object representing that finger may have a different ID than that representing the finger in an earlier frame.
| Parameters: | id (integer) – The ID value of a Finger object from a previous frame. |
|---|---|
| Returns: | Finger – The finger with the matching ID if one exists for this hand in this frame; otherwise, an invalid Finger object is returned. |
New in version 1.0.
The Pointable object with the specified ID associated with this hand.
Use this function to retrieve a Pointable object associated with this hand using an ID value obtained from a previous frame. This function always returns a Pointable object, but if no finger with the specified ID is present, an invalid Pointable object is returned.
pointable_of_interest = hand.pointable(pointable_ID)
Note that finger ID values are based on the hand ID. Hand ID values persist across frames, but only until tracking of that hand is lost. If tracking of a hand is lost and subsequently regained, the new Hand object will have a different ID than that representing the hand in an earlier frame. Thus, finger IDs will also change.
| Parameters: | id (integer) – The ID value of a Pointable object from a previous frame. |
|---|---|
| Returns: | Pointable – The Pointable object with the matching ID if one exists for this hand in this frame; otherwise, an invalid Pointable object is returned. |
New in version 1.0.
The angle of rotation derived from the change in orientation of this hand, and associated fingers, between the current frame and the specified frame.
If no axis parameter is specified, then the returned angle is expressed in radians measured clockwise around the computed rotation_axis() vector (using the right-hand rule) between the start and end frames. The value is always between 0 and pi radians (0 and 180 degrees).
If an axis parameter is specified, then the returned angle is expressed in radians measured clockwise around the supplied rotation axis (using the right-hand rule). In this case, the value is always between -pi and pi radians (-180 and 180 degrees).
rotation_around_y_axis = hand.rotation_angle(start_frame, Vector.y_axis)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then the angle of rotation is zero.
| Parameters: | |
|---|---|
| Return type: | float – A positive value containing the heuristically determined rotational change between the current frame and that specified in the sinceFrame parameter, in radians. |
New in version 1.0.
The axis of rotation derived from the change in orientation of this hand, and any associated fingers, between the current frame and the specified frame.
The returned direction vector is normalized.
axis_of_hand_rotation = hand.rotation_axis(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns a zero vector.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the relative rotation. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | Vector – A normalized direction Vector representing the heuristically determined axis of rotational change of the hand between the current frame and that specified in the sinceFrame parameter. |
New in version 1.0.
The transform matrix expressing the rotation derived from the change in orientation of this hand, and associated fingers, between the current frame and the specified frame.
hand_rotation_transform = hand.rotation_matrix(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns an identity matrix.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the relative rotation. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | Matrix – A transformation Matrix representing the heuristically determined rotational change of the hand between the current frame and that specified in the sinceFrame parameter. |
New in version 1.0.
The estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a rotating motion.
rotation_intent_factor = hand.rotation_probability(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns zero.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the relative rotation. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | float – A value between 0 and 1 representing the estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a rotating motion. |
New in version 1.0.
The scale factor derived from this hand’s motion between the current frame and the specified frame.
The scale factor is always positive. A value of 1.0 indicates no scaling took place. Values between 0.0 and 1.0 indicate contraction and values greater than 1.0 indicate expansion.
The Leap Motion software derives scaling from the relative inward or outward motion of a hand and its associated fingers (independent of translation and rotation).
hand_scale_motion = hand.scale_factor(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns 1.0.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the relative scaling. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | float – A positive value representing the heuristically determined scaling change ratio of the hand between the current frame and that specified in the sinceFrame parameter. |
New in version 1.0.
The estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a scaling motion.
scale_intent_factor = hand.scale_probability(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns zero.
Arguments
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the relative scaling. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | float – A value between 0 and 1 representing the estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a scaling motion. |
New in version 1.0.
The Tool object with the specified ID held by this hand.
As of version 2+, tools are not associated with hands. This attribute always returns an invalid Tool object.
Use this function to retrieve a Tool object held by this hand using an ID value obtained from a previous frame. This function always returns a Tool object, but if no tool with the specified ID is present, an invalid Tool object is returned.
Note that ID values persist across frames, but only until tracking of a particular object is lost. If tracking of a tool is lost and subsequently regained, the new Tool object representing that tool may have a different ID than that representing the tool in an earlier frame.
| Parameters: | id (integer) – The ID value of a Tool object from a previous frame. |
|---|---|
| Returns: | Tool – The tool with the matching ID if one exists for this hand in this frame; otherwise, an invalid Tool object is returned. |
New in version 1.0.
The change of position of this hand between the current frame and the specified frame.
The returned translation vector provides the magnitude and direction of the movement in millimeters.
linear_hand_movement = hand.translation(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns a zero vector.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the translation. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | Vector – A Vector representing the heuristically determined change in hand position between the current frame and that specified in the sinceFrame parameter. |
New in version 1.0.
The estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a translating motion.
translation_intent_factor = hand.translation_probability(start_frame)
If a corresponding Hand object is not found in sinceFrame, or if either this frame or sinceFrame are invalid Frame objects, then this method returns zero.
| Parameters: | sinceFrame (Frame) – The starting frame for computing the translation. |
|---|---|
| Return type: | float – A value between 0 and 1 representing the estimated probability that the hand motion between the current frame and the specified frame is intended to be a translating motion. |
New in version 1.0.
| Type: | Hand |
|---|
An invalid Hand object.
if hand is not Hand.invalid:
#Process hand data...
You can use the instance returned by this function in comparisons testing whether a given Hand instance is valid or invalid. (You can also use the Hand.is_valid property.)
New in version 1.0.
Compare Hand object equality. Two Hand objects are equal if and only if both Hand objects represent the exact same physical hand in the same frame and both Hand objects are valid.
New in version 1.0.
Compare Hand object inequality. Two Hand objects are equal if and only if both Hand objects represent the exact same physical hand in the same frame and both Hand objects are valid.
New in version 1.0.