Touch screen user interfaces configured to detect a touch gesture for controlling software applications, computers, devices, machinery, and process environments. Such user interfaces can be manipulated by users and provide a wide range of uses with computer applications, assistance to the disabled, and control of electronic devices, machines, and processes. Enhancements can include velocity and pressure sensing capabilities. The touch screen can be realized with a transparent touch sensor array positioned over a visual display. The touch screen can be configured to measure a spatial pressure distribution profile from a touch on the touch screen and recognize gestures based on dynamics among spatial pressure distribution profiles. In an example implementation, the gesture recognition may rely solely on dynamics of shape differences between hand contact patterns and omit the use of pressure, as the shape of the spatial pressure distribution profile does not vary much by pressure.