# Leap Motion - Detect the number of hands visible

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/leap-motion-detect-the-number-of-hands-visible/14514>\
**Category:** Libraries\
**Created:** [October 8, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/leap-motion-detect-the-number-of-hands-visible/14514 "2019-10-08T11:36:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hamishryan6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hamishryan6](https://discourse.processing.org/u/hamishryan6)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/leap-motion-detect-the-number-of-hands-visible/14514/1 "2019-10-08T11:36:11Z")

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Hi All,

I have only just started using Leap Motion in Processing and I was wondering if there is a way of detecting how many active hands are being detected by the Leap Motion device. I want to make an ellipse appear when both hands are detected. I have tried using

if (hand.isLeft() && hand.isRight()) {  
}

But it does not seem to allow both to be true. Can anyone help on this?

Thanks,

Hamish

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:03pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/leap-motion-detect-the-number-of-hands-visible/14514/2 "2019-10-08T12:03:37Z")

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i guess “hand” is ONE hand,  
and that can be left OR right, but not both

* * *

but as you not give any information about what processing library you are talking about  
( or link to it )  
and also not post your code  
it is just a idea you can ignore.