System and method for detecting gestures

A method comprising:

• detecting an application change within a multi-application operating framework;
• updating an application hierarchy model for gesture-to-action responses with the detected application change;
• detecting a gesture from a set of presence-based gestures;
• mapping the detected gesture to a gesture-to-action response in the hierarchy model, wherein if a gesture-to-action response is not identified within an initial application in the hierarchy model, progressively checking gesture-to-action responses of an application in a lower hierarchy of the hierarchy model;
• if the detected gesture is a first gesture, detecting translation of the first gesture;
• if the detected gesture is a second gesture, detecting rotation of the first gesture;
• if the detected gesture is a third gesture, detecting prolonged presence of the third gesture;
• and
• triggering the action, wherein the action is modified according to a modified action if defined for translation, prolonged presence or rotation.