A detection system, the system comprising: an electrically-conductive surface; a plurality of field-defining electrodes (e 1 -e n) electrically connected to the electrically-conductive surface, the surface and the electrodes cooperating to create an electrical field in a sensing area, the created electrical field functioning as a passive sensor for the detection system; and a controller operably coupled to a memory, the memory having stored therein a plurality of defined templates (4116, 4200) corresponding to respective detection system events for the sensing area, the templates having corresponding actions defined therefor, the controller being configured to perform program logic to perform operations comprising: - monitoring for changes with the electrical field based on data derived from output from at least some of the electrodes, the derived data being indicative of an interaction with the sensing area, the interaction having characteristics including three-dimensional spatial and timing characteristics; - determining whether the interaction matches one of the defined templates without reconstructing the entire electrical field; and - responsive to a determination that the interaction matches one of the defined templates, selectively triggering the corresponding action based on one or more of the characteristics of the interaction. an electrically-conductive surface; a plurality of field-defining electrodes (e 1 -e n) electrically connected to the electrically-conductive surface, the surface and the electrodes cooperating to create an electrical field in a sensing area, the created electrical field functioning as a passive sensor for the detection system; and a controller operably coupled to a memory, the memory having stored therein a plurality of defined templates (4116, 4200) corresponding to respective detection system events for the sensing area, the templates having corresponding actions defined therefor, the controller being configured to perform program logic to perform operations comprising: - monitoring for changes with the electrical field based on data derived from output from at least some of the electrodes, the derived data being indicative of an interaction with the sensing area, the interaction having characteristics including three-dimensional spatial and timing characteristics; - determining whether the interaction matches one of the defined templates without reconstructing the entire electrical field; and - responsive to a determination that the interaction matches one of the defined templates, selectively triggering the corresponding action based on one or more of the characteristics of the interaction. - monitoring for changes with the electrical field based on data derived from output from at least some of the electrodes, the derived data being indicative of an interaction with the sensing area, the interaction having characteristics including three-dimensional spatial and timing characteristics; - determining whether the interaction matches one of the defined templates without reconstructing the entire electrical field; and - responsive to a determination that the interaction matches one of the defined templates, selectively triggering the corresponding action based on one or more of the characteristics of the interaction.