A device and method to detect a gesture made by an object in touch-less communication with the device are described. The device includes a collection engine to collect light intensity measurements of light intensity at two or more measurement cycles from two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device. The device also includes a processor to identify the gesture based on the light intensity measurements at each of the two or more ambient light sensors at two or more of the two or more measurement cycles, and a memory device to store a gesture library that associates the gesture with an output signal.