A system comprising: a computing device and an apparatus; the apparatus comprising a wireless communication device and a mechanical actuator; the computing device comprising: one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object; a wireless communication module separate from the object detection sensors and configured to support wireless communication; and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules configured to perform operations comprising: recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus and recognition of a first identifier by the one or more object detection sensors; recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication that includes a second identifier by the wireless communication module from the apparatus; and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events by comparison of the first and second identifiers, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device; wherein causing the apparatus to be bound is performed separately from an operating system of the computing device that is responsible for file management of the computing device; and wherein the first and second events occur in a predetermined overlapping temporal window; and wherein sending, by the apparatus, the wireless communication that includes the second identifier is caused by actuating the mechanical actuator of the apparatus. a computing device and an apparatus; the apparatus comprising a wireless communication device and a mechanical actuator; the computing device comprising: one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object; a wireless communication module separate from the object detection sensors and configured to support wireless communication; and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules configured to perform operations comprising: recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus and recognition of a first identifier by the one or more object detection sensors; recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication that includes a second identifier by the wireless communication module from the apparatus; and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events by comparison of the first and second identifiers, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device; wherein causing the apparatus to be bound is performed separately from an operating system of the computing device that is responsible for file management of the computing device; and wherein the first and second events occur in a predetermined overlapping temporal window; and wherein sending, by the apparatus, the wireless communication that includes the second identifier is caused by actuating the mechanical actuator of the apparatus. one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object; a wireless communication module separate from the object detection sensors and configured to support wireless communication; and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules configured to perform operations comprising: recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus and recognition of a first identifier by the one or more object detection sensors; recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication that includes a second identifier by the wireless communication module from the apparatus; and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events by comparison of the first and second identifiers, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device; wherein causing the apparatus to be bound is performed separately from an operating system of the computing device that is responsible for file management of the computing device; and wherein the first and second events occur in a predetermined overlapping temporal window; and wherein sending, by the apparatus, the wireless communication that includes the second identifier is caused by actuating the mechanical actuator of the apparatus. recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus and recognition of a first identifier by the one or more object detection sensors; recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication that includes a second identifier by the wireless communication module from the apparatus; and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events by comparison of the first and second identifiers, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device; wherein causing the apparatus to be bound is performed separately from an operating system of the computing device that is responsible for file management of the computing device; and wherein the first and second events occur in a predetermined overlapping temporal window; and wherein sending, by the apparatus, the wireless communication that includes the second identifier is caused by actuating the mechanical actuator of the apparatus.