A virtual reality (VR) device presents a virtual environment and detects an input that relates to a contact by a user. The VR device identifies attributes of the input, and the attributes include, for example, a portion of the VR device associated with the contact, a duration of the contact, and a direction of motion of the contact. The VR device modifies the presented virtual environment based on the input attributes, such as presenting a default view of the virtual environment when a first type of input is detected; moving a virtual horizon when a second type of input is detected; enlarging a depicted virtual object when a third type of input is detected; presenting a menu of options when a fourth type of input is detected; and capturing and presenting an image or video of the user's actual surroundings when a fifth type of input is detected.