Proximity based system and method for detecting user gestures. Each of a plurality of proximity sensing circuits may collect digital data. Each proximity sensing circuit may include an antenna configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals and a shield driver configured to shield signals transmitted by the antenna in one or more directions. The digital data may be collected based on electromagnetic signals received from another proximity sensing circuit via the antenna. The received electromagnetic signals may be modified by one or more user proximity gestures. The digital data from each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits may be received by a coordinating circuit. The coordinating circuit may produce coordinated digital data from the digital data received from each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits. The coordinated digital data may be configured for use in determining that a user performed the one or more user proximity gestures.