This thesis will introduce the concept of collaboratively using freehand gestures to interact with visualizations. It could be problematic to work with data and visualizations together with others in the traditional desktop setting because of the limited screen size and a single user input device. Therefore this thesis suggests a solution by integrating computer vision and gestures with interactive visualizations. This integration resulted in a prototype where multiple users can interact with the same visualizations simultaneously. The prototype was evaluated and tested on ten potential users. The results from the tests show that using gestures have potential to support collaboration while working with interactive visualizations. It also shows what components are needed in order to enable gestural interaction with visualizations.

[pt] A Visão Computacional pode ser utilizada para capturar gestos e criar dispositivos de interação com computadores mais intuitivos e rápidos. Os dispositivos comerciais atuais de interação baseados em gestos utilizam equipamentos caros (dispositivos de seguimento, luvas, câmeras especiais, etc.) e ambientes especiais que dificultam a difusão para o público em geral. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a viabilidade de utilizarmos câmeras Web como dispositivo de interação baseado em gestos da Mão. Em nosso estudo consideramos que a mão humana está limpa, isto é, sem nenhum dispositivo (mecânico, magnético ou óptico) colocado nela. Consideramos ainda que o ambiente onde ocorre a interação tem as características de um ambiente de trabalho normal, ou seja, sem luzes ou panos de fundo especiais. Para avaliar a viabilidade deste mecanismo de interação, desenvolvemos alguns protótipos. Neles os gestos da mão e as posições dos dedos são utilizados para simular algumas funções presentes em mouses e teclados, tais como selecionar estados e objetos e definir direções e posições. Com base nestes protótipos apresentamos algumas conclusões e sugestões para trabalhos futuros. / [en] Computer Vision can be used to capture gestures and create more intuitive and faster devices to interact with computers. Current commercial gesture-based interaction devices make use of expensive equipment (tracking devices, gloves, special cameras, etc.) and special environments that make the dissemination of such devices to the general public difficult. This work presents a study on the feasibility of using Web cameras as interaction devices based on hand-gestures. In our study, we consider that the hand is clean, that is, it has no (mechanical, magnetic or optical) device. We also consider that the environment where the interaction takes place has the characteristics of a normal working place, that is, without special lights or backgrounds. In order to evaluate the feasibility of such interaction mechanism, we have developed some prototypes of interaction devices. In these prototypes, hand gestures and the position of fingers were used to simulate some mouse and keyboard functions, such as selecting states and objects, and defining directions and positions. Based on these prototypes, we present some conclusions and suggestions for future works.