Gesture Recognition Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Touch-based, Touchless), By Industry (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global gesture recognition market size was valued at USD 6.22 billion in 2017. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 22.2% from 2018 to 2025, owing to increasing per capita income, rising technological advancements, and burgeoning digitization across various industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, and healthcare. Surging use of consumer electronics, growing implementation of Internet of Things (IoT), and soaring need for comfort and convenience in product usage are also providing an upthrust to the market.

Gesture recognition is conversion of a hominid movement or signal to a command using a mathematical algorithm. It enables any person to interrelate with the machine in absence of any physical devices, as an input mechanism to perform desired actions in a system. The technology interprets human gestures and movements, such as movement of hands, fingers, arms, head, or the entire body. It allows users to operate and control devices merely with their gestures.

For instance, users can move cursor by simply pointing a finger at the screen. This makes input devices such as touchscreens, keyboards, and mouse redundant. Gesture recognition technology has improved usability of several devices and has occasioned progression of several innovative applications in various industries.

Gestures are visible body actions through which human express information to others without saying it. In our daily lives, we can see several hand gestures, which are frequently used for communication purposes. Hand gesture recognition is one of the most advanced research fields that provide a means for human-machine interaction (HMI) and human-computer interaction (HCI). Its applications range from medical rehabilitation to consumer electronics control.

Different types of sensing techniques are used to identify various hand gestures. Sensing techniques are used to obtain multiple signals for pattern recognition. Different kinds of prototypes developed are easy to use and understand and they are more cost-effective than traditional interface devices such as keyboard and mouse. Hand gestures are highly expressive in terms of interacting with the environment or communicating any information.

Similarly, touchless sensing offers evolutionary technology in human-machine interface (HMI). Touchless technology detects motion or presence within vicinity of a sensor and enables scanning of biometric images without any need to touch sensors physically. It combines advantages of both optical sensing as well as biometric sensing systems. As soon as an object comes near touchless sensors, optical source illuminates the object and cameras scan that image. These optical sources are highly sophisticated and guarantee high image quality.

Moreover, there is a high competition in the market that is leading to a large number of mergers and acquisitions. For instance, Intel Corp. acquired Omek Interactive Ltd. The key players in the market include multinational companies such as Apple, Intel, Microsoft, and Google. Along with global giants, homegrown players are also showing tremendous growth and attracting big investors. This has made the market even more competitive.

End-use Insights

Increasing digitization across industries is one of the primary growth stimulants for the market. The consumer electronics industry represented the leading share in the market in 2017 owing to ease of adoption due to low technical complexities for end users. Several other industries have also started using this technology. For instance, the automotive and healthcare industries are rigorously adopting gesture recognition technology. This technology helps users to interact with computers and other devices with ease and enhances human-machine interaction. It is also helps physically disabled people to operate devices.

Rising use of consumer electronics and Internet of Things, along with growing need for comfort and convenience in product usage, is stoking the growth of the global gesture recognition market. Technological advancements and ease of use are helping the technology gain global acceptance. Increasing awareness regarding regulations and driver safety are also boosting the demand for gesture recognition systems in the automobile industry. Similarly, surging demand for application-based technologies are bolstering market growth.

Manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are focusing on improving driver experience. Thus, they are trying to reduce driver distraction with the help of gesture recognition technology. Increasing digitization across various industries is compelling manufacturers to adopt innovative techniques in order to build a large customer base.

Technology Insights

Gesture recognition technology tracks user’s movements and gestures and determines and performs operations using various tools. A variety of input devices are used to recognize gestures with the help of images or videos. Similarly, multiple technical environments are used to implement these gestures. Emerging technologies such as image sensors, ultrasonic, interactive, 3D technologies, electric field, infrared, and display capacitive sensors are used in various applications such as head-up display (HUD), biometric access, smartphones, and medical diagnosis.

Touch-less technology is expected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. Rising implementation of the technology in healthcare and automotive applications are anticipated to contribute to the growth of the segment in the near future. Also, benefits such as easy interface and speed and accuracy are estimated to escalate the incorporation of this gesture recognition technology in tablets and smartphones.

Sign language recognition technology transcribes sign language symbols into text. Robotics uses directional indication through pointing. The direction in which user is pointing helps process and interpret gestures with accuracy. Advancements in technologies allow users to control their smartphones and computers through facial gestures. Affective computing is used to process and detect emotional expressions of users.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2017. The region is likely to remain dominant through 2025. This region accounts for the largest proportion of the world population. Moreover, China and India are among the fastest-growing economies in the world. Increasing disposable income and growing industrial digitization are poised to supplement the growth of the region.

The Middle East and Africa and South America are projected to be the most promising regions over the forecast period. MEA has a dynamic young population with one of the highest global per capita incomes. Improving standard of living along with increasing spending capacity and awareness regarding healthcare and sanitization is helping the market flourish in these regions.

North America and Europe are anticipated to witness steady growth over the forecast period. The automotive and healthcare industries in these region are estimated to experience an upswing in the adoption of gesture recognition technology over the forecast period. Similarly, 2D and 3D gesture recognition technologies can deliver more realistic and interactive exposure to customer experience.

Gesture Recognition Market Share Insights

Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Apple Inc.; EyeSight Technologies Ltd; and Infineon Technologies AG. These players undertake strategies such as partnerships, business expansions, new product developments, and contracts to expand their market share.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global gesture recognition market report into technology, industry, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014-2025)

  • Touch-based

    • Multi-Touch System

    • Motion Gesture

  • Touchless

    • Capacitive/Electric Field

    • Infrared Array

    • Ultrasonic Technology

    • 2D Camera-Based Technology

    • 3D Vision Technologies

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Automotive

    • Lighting System

    • HUD

    • Biometric Access

    • Others

  • Consumer Electronics

    • Smartphone

    • Laptops & Tablets

    • Gaming Console

    • Smart TV

    • Set-Top Box

    • Head-Mount Display (HMD)

    • Others

  • Healthcare

    • Sign Language

    • Lab & Operating Rooms

    • Diagnosis

  • Others

    • Advertisement & Communication

    • Hospitality

    • Educational Hubs

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)