International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

The rapid advancement of touchless technologies has significantly transformed modern human–machine interaction systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based gesture-controlled smart switch system that enables users to operate electrical appliances without physical contact. The system employs a webcam to capture hand gestures, which are processed using computer vision techniques implemented in Python with OpenCV and MediaPipe libraries. The recognized gestures are translated into control commands and transmitted wirelessly via Wi-Fi to an ESP8266 microcontroller, which subsequently controls relay modules connected to electrical appliances. The proposed system provides a hygienic, intuitive, and efficient alternative to conventional switching mechanisms. Experimental observations demonstrate reliable gesture recognition and real-time responsiveness, making the system suitable for applications in smart homes, healthcare environments, and assistive technologies.