The present disclosure is directed to a three-dimensional interactive display system. The system detects a position of a user (e.g., the user's finger or hand) or an optical emitter device, along three different dimensions. In a case where the system detects a position of a user's finger, the user wears a passive device having angled surfaces on his or her finger to improve detection of the user's finger. In a case where the system detects the optical emitter device, the user holds the optical emitter device or wears the optical emitter device similar to the passive device. The optical emitter device emits light, and the system tracks the optical emitting device by detecting the light emitted by the optical emitter device.