Articles on: Triggers - Inputs
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Find Reliable Face Gestures with Face Tester

Face Tester shows how strongly PlayAbility currently detects each supported face movement. It does not create a mapping or save a threshold; use its readings to decide what to configure later in Mapping.


Prepare the camera


  1. Open Settings > General.
  2. Under Webcam, select the camera you want to test.
  3. Position your face near the center of the preview.
  4. Use steady front lighting and avoid strong backlighting.
  5. Start Face Detection beside the webcam preview.


Test in the same camera position, lighting, and seating posture you expect to use while playing.


Compare gesture scores


  1. Open Face Tester from the sidebar.
  2. On Face Gestures Tester, select Mouth, Brows, or Eyes.
  3. Relax your face and observe the resting value for a gesture.
  4. Make that gesture comfortably and observe its active value.
  5. Return to a neutral expression and repeat the movement several times.
  6. Compare other gestures and look for one with:
    • A low and stable resting value.
    • A clearly different value when intentional.
    • Similar results on repeated attempts.
    • Little effort or strain.
  8. Note the resting and intentional values for the strongest candidates.


The live bars use a 0–100 scale. A gesture with a wide, repeatable gap between rest and activation is normally easier to configure than one whose values overlap.


Use the result in a mapping


  1. Open the current profile in Mapping.
  2. Add the action you want, then select Select a trigger.
  3. Select Create a new trigger + and choose Face Gestures.
  4. Select the gesture you tested.
  5. Set the Sensitivity Threshold between its typical resting and intentional values.
  6. If the deliberate state produces a lower value, enable Trigger when below threshold and tune accordingly.
  7. Add a Detection Delay if very brief expressions should be ignored.
  8. Select Save.
  9. Test the completed mapping repeatedly with Main Output enabled.


For example, if a gesture usually stays near 10 at rest and reaches 70 when intentional, begin with a threshold somewhere between those values, then adjust it after real use. Do not choose the threshold from a single attempt.


Verify the choice


  1. Return to a neutral face and confirm the mapping remains inactive.
  2. Perform the gesture several times and confirm the mapping activates consistently.
  3. Make normal expressions, speak, and look around to check for false activations.
  4. Retest from the posture and distance you will use with the target game or app.


Troubleshooting and limitations


The bars do not move


Confirm Face Detection is running and the selected webcam shows a live image. Check Windows camera permission, refresh the camera list in Settings > General, or close another app that may be using the camera.


Every score is weak or unstable


Move into even front lighting, keep your full face visible, and reduce strong shadows. Try another camera angle or a different gesture rather than making an uncomfortable expression more forcefully.


Left and right gestures have different values


This can be normal. Test both sides and use the side that produces the most distinct, repeatable score for you.


The tester looks reliable but the mapping misfires


Recheck the mapping's selected gesture, threshold, Trigger when below threshold setting, and delay. Also test under the same lighting and posture used in Face Tester.


The tester changed the wrong setting


Face Tester does not modify profiles. Return to Mapping to select the gesture and save its trigger settings.


A gesture works only with strain


Choose a different gesture or input. Face Tester reports detection values; it cannot determine whether a movement is comfortable or safe for repeated use.

Updated on: 29/07/2026