Gesture detection using an array of short-range communication devices

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that cause one or more processors of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receive, from an input device of the computing device, an indication of an initiation input that indicates a command to obtain position information;
• during movement of the computing device with respect to an array of position devices and while the input device receives the initiation input, obtaining, from a near-field communication module operatively coupled to the computing device, the position information from the array using near-field communication, wherein the position information identifies unique positions of respective position devices within the array;
• determining sequence information associated with the position information, wherein the sequence information is representative of an order in which the position information was obtained from each position device within the array;
• responsive to obtaining the position information from a first position device of the array of position devices, determining, based on input from a sensor different than the near-field communication module, the movement of the computing device during a time period that includes a time when the position information was obtained from the array of position devices;
• and
• performing an action based at least in part on each of the position information, the sequence information, and the determined movement, wherein the position information, the sequence information, and the determined movement are representative of a gesture input.

A mobile computing device comprising:

• an input device configured to receive an initiation input indicative of a command to obtain position information;
• a near-field communication module configured to, during movement of the mobile computing device with respect to an array of position devices and while the input device receives the initiation input, obtain the position information from the array using near-field communication, wherein the position information identifies unique positions of respective position devices within the array;
• one or more processors configured to determine sequence information associated with the position information, wherein the sequence information is representative of an order in which the position information was obtained from each position device within the array;
• and
• a sensor configured to determine the movement of the mobile computing device during a time period that includes a time when the position information was obtained from the array of position devices, wherein the sensor is different than the near-field communication module, and wherein the sensor is configured to determine the movement of the mobile computing device in response to obtaining the position information from a first position device of the array of position devices,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform an action based at least in part on each of the position information, the sequence information, and the determined movement, wherein the position information, the sequence information, and the determined movement are representative of a gesture input.