A method for gesture detection comprises pre-processing and main-processing steps, wherein the pre-processing comprises emitting light using a light emitting device and generating of directional sensor signals as a function of time by detecting a fraction of the emitted light reflected by means of a movable object using a directional light sensor array). The main-processing comprises calculating coordinates as a function of time by using the directional sensor signals, being indicative of a position of the object with reference to a plane parallel to a principal plane of the light sensor array, and detecting a movement of the object depending on the timing of the coordinates.