FingerPy – Break the Thumb-Sucking Habit

Children often develop the habit of sucking their thumbs as self-soothing. While it may be a natural and comforting behaviour for young kids, it can lead to dental and speech problems if not addressed timely. I developed FingerPy, a Python application that encourages children to stop sucking their thumbs by controlling video playback with hand gestures.

0.1 Introducing FingerPy

FingerPy uses computer vision to detect hand gestures and control video playback. When a child places their thumb near their head, FingerPy pauses the video, and playback resumes when they move their thumb away. This smart approach makes breaking the thumb-sucking habit a fun and interactive experience and helps children become more aware of their behaviour while watching videos.

0.2 How FingerPy Works

The application leverages the power of the MediaPipe library to detect hand and face landmarks in real time. By processing these landmarks, FingerPy determines if the child’s hand is near their head and pauses or resumes video playback. The app is designed to work with the most common video file formats and can be easily customized to suit your needs.

0.3 Setting Up FingerPy

FingerPy is easy to set up and requires only a few Python libraries, such as OpenCV, Python-VLC, and MediaPipe. The app is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. You only need to download the project from the GitHub repository (https://github.com/danielvca/FingerPy), install the required libraries, and run the script. Your child can start enjoying their favourite videos while working on breaking the thumb-sucking habit.

FingerPy is an innovative and interactive way to help children overcome their thumb-sucking habit. Integrating computer vision and gesture recognition offers a fun and engaging solution that can improve the overall well-being of your child. So, why wait? Give FingerPy a try and help your child take the first step towards breaking this habit for good.sdaa