A method for controlling a computer system includes acquiring video of a subject, and obtaining from the video a time-resolved sequence of depth maps. A geometric model of the subject is fit to each depth map in the sequence and tracked into a subsequent depth map in the sequence. From the subsequent depth map, a background section is selected for exclusion. The background section is one that lacks coherent motion and is located more than a threshold distance from the coordinates of the geometric model tracked in. Then, a subsequent geometric model of the subject is fit to the depth map with the background section excluded.