Method for recognizing an orientation of a hand of a user, comprising the steps of: - detecting the hand of the user by means of a sensor, - determining a plurality of surface points (6, 7) of the hand in the sensor signal, wherein the plurality of surface points (6, 7) comprises at least one center point of the hand and a plurality of surface points arranged essentially in a circular shape around the center point, - determining a distance of the respective surface points (6, 7) from the sensor for determining whether the surface points (6, 7) are essentially situated on a concave surface with respect to the sensor or on a convex surface with respect to the sensor, wherein a concave surface is determined if the center of the hand, from the perspective of the sensor, is arranged behind a line or plane determined by the plurality of surface points arranged around the center point; wherein the line is determined by two surface points opposite one another with respect to the center point, and the plane is an averaged plane placed through the surface points arranged around the center point, or through all surface points (6, 7); and wherein a convex surface is determined if the center point of the hand, from the perspective of the sensor, is arranged in front of line or plane defined by the plurality of surface points arranged around the center point, - recognizing an inner hand surface facing the sensor if it is determined that the surface points (6, 7) lie essentially on a concave surface with respect to the sensor, and/or - recognizing a back of a hand facing the sensor if it is determined that the surface points (6, 7) lie essentially on a convex surface with respect to the sensor. - detecting the hand of the user by means of a sensor, - determining a plurality of surface points (6, 7) of the hand in the sensor signal, wherein the plurality of surface points (6, 7) comprises at least one center point of the hand and a plurality of surface points arranged essentially in a circular shape around the center point, - determining a distance of the respective surface points (6, 7) from the sensor for determining whether the surface points (6, 7) are essentially situated on a concave surface with respect to the sensor or on a convex surface with respect to the sensor, wherein a concave surface is determined if the center of the hand, from the perspective of the sensor, is arranged behind a line or plane determined by the plurality of surface points arranged around the center point; wherein the line is determined by two surface points opposite one another with respect to the center point, and the plane is an averaged plane placed through the surface points arranged around the center point, or through all surface points (6, 7); and wherein a convex surface is determined if the center point of the hand, from the perspective of the sensor, is arranged in front of line or plane defined by the plurality of surface points arranged around the center point, - recognizing an inner hand surface facing the sensor if it is determined that the surface points (6, 7) lie essentially on a concave surface with respect to the sensor, and/or - recognizing a back of a hand facing the sensor if it is determined that the surface points (6, 7) lie essentially on a convex surface with respect to the sensor.