A system for a vehicle, comprising: a steering element situated opposite a driver seat in a vehicle, the steering element comprising: a plurality of proximity sensors (100, 200, 300) encased in the periphery of the steering element operable to detect hand gestures along the outer periphery (502, 517) of the steering element; a cavity; an array of invisible-light emitters (104, 106 - 108) operable to project invisible light beams (606 - 608) across said cavity; and an array of light detectors operable to detect the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters, and to detect gestures inside said cavity that interrupt the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters; an interactive deck housed in the vehicle, for providing at least one of radio broadcast, video broadcast, audio entertainment, video entertainment and navigational assistance in the vehicle; and a processor housed in the vehicle, coupled with said proximity sensors and said deck, operable (i) to identify an upward hand gesture detected by said proximity sensors, and to increase an adjustable setting for said deck in response to thus-identified upward hand gesture, and (ii) to identify a downward hand gesture detected by said proximity sensors, and to decrease the adjustable setting in response to the thus-identified downward hand gesture, and (iii) to identify the gestures inside said cavity detected by said light detectors, and to control said deck in response to the thus-identified gestures inside said cavity. a steering element situated opposite a driver seat in a vehicle, the steering element comprising: a plurality of proximity sensors (100, 200, 300) encased in the periphery of the steering element operable to detect hand gestures along the outer periphery (502, 517) of the steering element; a cavity; an array of invisible-light emitters (104, 106 - 108) operable to project invisible light beams (606 - 608) across said cavity; and an array of light detectors operable to detect the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters, and to detect gestures inside said cavity that interrupt the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters; a plurality of proximity sensors (100, 200, 300) encased in the periphery of the steering element operable to detect hand gestures along the outer periphery (502, 517) of the steering element; a cavity; an array of invisible-light emitters (104, 106 - 108) operable to project invisible light beams (606 - 608) across said cavity; and an array of light detectors operable to detect the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters, and to detect gestures inside said cavity that interrupt the invisible light beams projected by said invisible-light emitters; an interactive deck housed in the vehicle, for providing at least one of radio broadcast, video broadcast, audio entertainment, video entertainment and navigational assistance in the vehicle; and a processor housed in the vehicle, coupled with said proximity sensors and said deck, operable (i) to identify an upward hand gesture detected by said proximity sensors, and to increase an adjustable setting for said deck in response to thus-identified upward hand gesture, and (ii) to identify a downward hand gesture detected by said proximity sensors, and to decrease the adjustable setting in response to the thus-identified downward hand gesture, and (iii) to identify the gestures inside said cavity detected by said light detectors, and to control said deck in response to the thus-identified gestures inside said cavity.