Patent ID: 8836643

Claim:
A method of configuring an adaptive user interface device configured to receive user inputs, comprising: adapting a mode of operation of the adaptive user interface device, wherein adapting a mode of operation is selected from the group consisting of adjusting a sensitivity of the user interface device to user inputs, and changing a shape of the adaptive user interface device, wherein changing a shape of the adaptive user interface device comprises: sensing a touch input of a user's hand on a surface of the adaptive user interface device; recognizing one of a plurality of users of the user interface device based on a shape of the user's hand by comparing the shape of the user's hand to a plurality of stored hand shapes that correspond to the plurality of users; and automatically changing a shape of a portion of the surface of the adaptive user interface device based on the recognition of the one of the plurality of users, wherein changing the shape of the portion of the surface of the adaptive user interface device comprises implementing a user preference that was set by the recognized one of the plurality of users; guiding the user's finger in the direction of an identified acceptable location comprising the operations of: identifying the acceptable location on the surface of the adaptive user interface device; detecting a current location of the user's finger on the surface of the adaptive user interface; determining whether the detected current location of the user's finger is at the identified acceptable location; and raising a portion of the surface of the adaptive user interface device in response to determining that the detected current location of the user's finger is not at the identified acceptable location.