1. A computer-implemented method for controlling aspects of a surveillance system, comprising: (a) receiving an operator's skeleton input data; (b) matching the received skeleton input data with a gesture stored in a database, using a processor; (c) matching the gesture to a corresponding video management program command stored on the database, using the processor; and (d) transmitting the video management program command to a video management program of a surveillance system, wherein the database comprises multiple gestures comprising discrete physical gestures and continuous physical gestures, and the method further comprises determining an operating state of the video management program, then matching the received skeleton data with a gesture selected from either a group of discrete physical gestures or a group of continuous physical gestures depending on the determined operating state.