A user interface employs a tactile sensor comprising an LED array, the user interface producing a rich flux of independently-adjustable interactive control parameters, rates of change, and symbols derived from these as well as tactile shapes, patterns, gestures, syntaxes, and phrases from each of one or more regions of contact or proximity. At least three independently-adjustable interactive real-time control parameters, plus rates and symbols, from the touch of a single finger tip. Running sums can be employed during scans so individual sensor measurements need not be stored. The tactile sensor array can be partitioned into sections or modules with separate scanning loops and/or processors. The LED array can serve as a visual display. To reject ambient light, the LED array can be configured to emit and respond to modulated light reflected from a user finger to LEDs configured, at least at a moment of measurement, to act as a photodiode.