A portable electronic device (100) having a touch screen (112) with a floating soft trigger icon (175) for enabling various functions of the electronic device (100), such as bar code reading, capturing RFID data, capturing video and images, calling applications, and/or placing phone calls. The floating trigger icon (175) is displayed on the touch screen (112) to enable easy identification and access of the trigger icon (175). The trigger icon (175) may be selected via application of any one of various unique control gestures (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260) to configure the electronic device (100). Based on the selected mode or function of the device (100), the trigger icon (175) may alter its appearance to facilitate use of the device (100). The operation and functionality of the trigger icon (175) may be programmed to customize operation of the device (100).