A gesture-based user interface comprises a wearable portable device storing a gesture profile for each of a plurality of different applications on the wearable portable device to define different gestures for the different applications, wherein each of the gesture profiles includes at least one gesture and a predetermined function associated with the at least one gesture; and a profile web service, wherein the portable device is in communication with the profile web service and is configured to download from the profile web service to the wearable portable device a customizable gesture profile for a particular one of the applications, wherein the customized gesture profile modifies at least one of the different gestures, the customized gesture profile comprising personal preferences of the user regarding the modified gesture, including physical attributes of the user.