A pressure sensitive device interface including a display screen, a framing structure that receives a force applied to the portable electronic device and exhibits strain within the framing structure, a strain gauge that identifies the strain within the framing structure, and a processor coupled to the display screen and the strain gauge and configured to measure the strain identified by the strain gauge and control the user interface according to the measurement of the strain. Among aspects, the framing structure may include a first pair of parallel elements that form opposing elongated outer edges of the portable electronic device, and a second pair of parallel elements that extend perpendicularly between the first pair of parallel elements. Among additional aspects, the processor may be further configured to identify a plurality of gestures with reference to strain metrics.