1. A method for controlling an industrial automation system, comprising: receiving, via a sensor system, image data representing a plurality of humans permissibly present in a control area, image data for one of the humans comprising indicia of operator authorization; converting the image data into analytical representations of the humans, each representation comprising a plurality of data points; distinguishing between the plurality of humans based upon the plurality of data points; identifying as an authorized operator the human having the indicia of operator authorization; interpreting a gesture of the authorized operator as corresponding to a control input for the industrial automation system; and implementing control of the industrial automation system based upon the interpretation.