Provided are a system and method for controlling a device through changes in a pressure of a deformable chamber such as may be controlled by a user through a user's hand and/or body. In one example, a device with a deformable chamber detects pressure level changes from a baseline and modifies output parameters including modifications on the playback of stored patterns. In another example, a massage device with a deformable chamber records the most recent pressure level changes in a sequence, interprets the pressure level sequence as a sequence of power levels to a vibratory motor, and repeats back the interpretation until a further pressure input is received above a baseline. In another example, the massage device interprets the currently input sequence of pressure levels in real-time into a sequence of power levels delivered to the vibratory motor.