An embodiment of an interaction mode selection apparatus may include a distance estimator to estimate a distance between a user and a part of a machine interface, and an interaction selector communicatively coupled to the distance estimator to select one or more active interaction modes from two or more available interaction modes based on the estimated distance. The distance estimator may include a depth sensor, a three-dimensional camera, a two-dimensional camera, an array of cameras, an array of microphones, an array of wireless access points, a beacon sensor, a proximity sensor, and/or an ultrasonic sensor. The available interaction modes may include a keyboard interaction mode, a mouse interaction mode, a touch interaction mode, a voice interaction mode, a gesture interaction mode, a body part cursor interaction mode, a body analysis interaction mode, and/or a facial analysis interaction mode. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.