Human　machine　interaction　(HMI)　is　an　interactive　way　of　information　exchange　between　human　and　machine.　By　collecting　the　information　that　can　be　conveyed　by　the　person　to　express　the　intention,　and　then　transforming　and　processing　the　information,　the　machine　can　work　according　to　the　intention　of　the　person.　However,　the　traditional　HMI　including　mouse,　keyboard　etc.　usually　requires　a　fixed　operating　space,　which　limits　people＇s　actions　and　cannot　directly　reflect　people＇s　intentions.　It　requires　people　to　learn　systematically　how　to　operate　skillfully,　which　indirectly　affects　work　efficiency.　Hand　gesture,　as　one　of　the　important　ways　for　human　to　convey　information　and　express　intuitive　intention,　has　the　advantages　of　high　degree　of　differentiation,　strong　flexibility　and　high　efficiency　of　information　transmission,　which　makes　hand　gesture　recognition　(HGR)　as　one　of　the　research　hotspots　in　the　field　of　HMI.　In　order　to　enable　readers　to　systematically　and　quickly　understand　the　research　status　of　HGR　and　grasp　the　basic　problems　and　development　direction　of　HGR,　this　article　takes　the　sensing　method　used　by　HGR　technology　as　the　entry　point,　and　makes　a　detailed　elaboration　and　systematic　summary　by　referring　to　a　large　number　of　research　achievements　in　recent　years.　©　2013　IEEE.