A measuring device is provided including a user interface responsive to changes in a displacement sensed by a displacement sensor. The measuring device (e.g., a handheld caliper or micrometer) includes a displacement sensor, a display, a signal processing and control portion, and a user interface. The displacement sensor includes a readhead and a scale displaceable relative to one another along a measuring axis under the manual control of a user, with the display being connected to the readhead. In a first user interface mode, displacement measurement values are displayed and are responsive to changes in the displacement of the displacement sensor. In a second user interface mode, operation control elements are displayed in the user interface and an operation control element action visible in the user interface (e.g., movement of a selection indicator) is responsive to changes in the displacement of the displacement sensor.