A computer implemented system controls an electronic device in the absence of a physical contact and/or a radio frequency communication with a user. The system detects the user's presence within a virtual detection range of a camera while the electronic device is in a standby state and transitions the electronic device to an interactive state when the user is detected. The system maintains the interactive state when a detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture by processing a comparison of an image of the extended finger against a plurality of images stored in a memory of the electronic device. The system renders a message as a result of the detection of the extended finger and transmits the message as a result of its movement.