A handheld electronic device configured for controlling three-dimensional content displayed in a user interface of a computing device, the handheld electronic device including: an electromagnetic sensing system for detecting, for the handheld electronic device, a pose of the handheld electronic device in three-dimensional space, wherein the pose is defined by a three- dimensional position and a three-dimensional orientation of the handheld electronic device; an inertial measurement unit sensor for detecting, for the handheld electronic device, an orientation in three-dimensional space of the handheld electronic device in three-dimensional space; at least one processor coupled to memory, the at least one processor configured to generate commands to manipulate the three-dimensional content in the computing device, characterized in that the commands are generated based on a determined proximity of the handheld electronic device relative to a receiver module associated with the computing device, the determined proximity triggering selection of data for use in generation of the commands, the data including: the pose of the electromagnetic sensing system when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is within range of the receiver module, and the orientation of the inertial measurement unit sensor when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is out of range of the receiver module; and at least one communication module to trigger transmission of the commands to manipulate the three-dimensional content displayed in the computing device based on detected changes in pose of the handheld electronic device. an electromagnetic sensing system for detecting, for the handheld electronic device, a pose of the handheld electronic device in three-dimensional space, wherein the pose is defined by a three- dimensional position and a three-dimensional orientation of the handheld electronic device; an inertial measurement unit sensor for detecting, for the handheld electronic device, an orientation in three-dimensional space of the handheld electronic device in three-dimensional space; at least one processor coupled to memory, the at least one processor configured to generate commands to manipulate the three-dimensional content in the computing device, characterized in that the commands are generated based on a determined proximity of the handheld electronic device relative to a receiver module associated with the computing device, the determined proximity triggering selection of data for use in generation of the commands, the data including: the pose of the electromagnetic sensing system when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is within range of the receiver module, and the orientation of the inertial measurement unit sensor when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is out of range of the receiver module; and at least one communication module to trigger transmission of the commands to manipulate the three-dimensional content displayed in the computing device based on detected changes in pose of the handheld electronic device. the pose of the electromagnetic sensing system when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is within range of the receiver module, and the orientation of the inertial measurement unit sensor when the determined proximity indicates that the handheld electronic device is out of range of the receiver module; and at least one communication module to trigger transmission of the commands to manipulate the three-dimensional content displayed in the computing device based on detected changes in pose of the handheld electronic device.