In one embodiment, a scalable controller for a computer input area is provided with: a plurality of drive signal pads; a plurality of signal detection pads; a programmable memory to store an indication of active ones of the drive signal pads and signal detection pads; and control circuitry to identify user input with the computer input area by 1) driving active ones of the drive signal pads, and 2) reading active ones of the signal detection pads.