Navigating a user interface of a utility meter with touch-based interactions

A utility meter comprising:

• an accelerometer configured to measure three-dimensional movement and attached to the utility meter;
• a display;
• a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
• while in a locked user input state:
• receiving a first accelerometer measurement and remaining in the locked user input state;
• transitioning from the locked user input state into an unlocked user input state;
• while in the unlocked user input state:
• displaying, on the display, a menu that comprises an object;
• receiving, from the accelerometer, a second acceleration measurement;
• comparing the second acceleration measurement to an expected user input, wherein the expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu;
• and
• when the second acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, updating the displayed menu to indicate a user selection of the object and updating the display by navigating the menu to indicate the selected object.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-executable program instructions, wherein when executed by a processing device, the computer-executable program instructions cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

• while in a locked user input state:
• receiving a first accelerometer measurement and remaining in the locked user input state;
• transitioning from a locked user input state into an unlocked user input state;
• while in the unlocked user input state:
• displaying, on a display of a utility meter, a menu that comprises a plurality of objects;
• receiving, from an accelerometer, second acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
• comparing the second acceleration measurement to an expected user input, wherein the expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu;
• and
• when the second acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, selecting an object from the plurality of objects on the displayed menu.