THE STUDY OF HANDS

This is my observation journal.

Mixed Media: Digital, 3D Printing, Glass Mirror

Hands Reading Machine Learning Program

The piece is a pattern recognition program for identifying hand gestures customized to individual users. The algorithm incorporates a convolutional neural network (CNN) model tweaked to handle individual differences.

As can be seen from the attached code and sample training data, the base model in the project contains a data augmentation layer, three convolutional 2D layers, a max-pooling layer for each convolutional layer, and an output layer with three units. When it comes to the customization for the individual users, a small model can then be fully retrained to fit the specific user and their environment.

CNN models are known for their bias dependencies. Programmer's inherent bias or data scarcity due to social differences can be easily embedded in the coding process, resulting in a reflectively problematic model. Aimed to dealing with this very deficit, I designed a customizable CNN model system for individual users.

Contact for the source code.

Scanner

I had an impulse to observe myself, just the way everyone sees themselves in a mirror.

I saw my left hand on the left, on the right, on its palm, as a fist, relaxed, flexed.

It was me.

I put my left hand on the left, on the right, on its palm, as a fist, relaxed, flexed.

The hands are put differently in different positions

I am observing a subject. I am the subject.

I am two things at the same time. I am OUT OF MY BODY.

3D Printed Models

Hand gestures, being subjects that is extremely political, takes the shine away from the concept. However, the process, as an important journal, is worth re-scaled and re-studied.

Other Limbs Ends

I have a weird obsession with hands. The obsession led to the observation of the other ends of limbs.

Ends of limbs (hands and feet) are the furthest from the “body”. They are detached from “me” by nature. Looking at the ends is, hence, one of the most direct representations of disassociation.

Gathering

Mixed Media: Paper, Plexiglass Sheets, Fishing Line, Wood Sticks

Glowforge Laser Cutter

2018