Electronic device response to force-sensitive interface

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, first signals from one or more first sensors located along a first edge of a housing of the computing device;
• receiving, by the computing device, second signals from one or more second sensors located along a second edge of the housing that opposes the first edge of the housing, the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing being separated from one another by a face of the housing that includes a display device;
• analyzing, by the computing device, the first signals and the second signals to determine that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing;
• and
• performing, by the computing device, actions responsive to determining that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing, including:
• (i) activating a device assistant application of the computing device responsive to determining that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing;
• (ii) outputting a prompt to cause a user to reply with voice input;
• (iii) after activating the device assistant application of the computing device, receiving a voice input that is responsive to the activating the device assistant application and that includes a command to be executed using the device assistant application;
• and
• (iv) after activating the device assistant application of the computing device, executing, using the device assistant application, an action that corresponds to an instruction in the command that is received responsive to the activating the device assistant application.

An electronic system comprising:

• one or more processing devices;
• one or more machine-readable storage devices for storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to cause performance of operations that comprise:
• receiving, by a computing device, first signals from one or more first sensors located along a first edge of a housing of the computing device;
• receiving, by the computing device, second signals from one or more second sensors located along a second edge of the housing that opposes the first edge of the housing, the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing being separated from one another by a face of the housing that includes a display device;
• analyzing, by the computing device, the first signals and the second signals to determine whether criteria is satisfied for performing an action;
• performing, by the computing device, the action responsive to determining that the criteria is satisfied;
• receiving, by the computing device, data from a proximity sensor of the computing device indicating that the proximity sensor is within a threshold proximity of an object;
• and
• adjusting, by the computing device, the criteria based on having received the data from the proximity sensor indicating that the proximity sensor is within the threshold proximity of the object, wherein adjusting the criteria includes increasing a level of force sensed by the one or more first sensors, the one or more second sensors, or both the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors that is required to satisfy the criteria.

An electronic system comprising:

• one or more processing devices;
• one or more machine-readable storage devices for storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to cause performance of operations that comprise:
• receiving, by a computing device, first signals from one or more first sensors located along a first edge of a housing of the computing device;
• receiving, by the computing device, second signals from one or more second sensors located along a second edge of the housing that opposes the first edge of the housing, the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing being separated from one another by a face of the housing that includes a display device;
• analyzing, by the computing device, the first signals and the second signals to determine that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing;
• and
• performing, by the computing device, actions responsive to determining that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing, including:
• (i) activating a device assistant application of the computing device responsive to determining that user input has simultaneously contacted the first edge of the housing and the second edge of the housing;
• (ii) outputting a prompt to cause a user to reply with voice input;
• (iii) after activating the device assistant application of the computing device, receiving a voice input that is responsive to the activating the device assistant application and that includes a command to be executed using the device assistant application;
• and
• (iv) after activating the device assistant application of the computing device, executing, using the device assistant application, an action that corresponds to an instruction in the command that is received responsive to the activating the device assistant application.