1. A computer-implemented method for detecting a tilt gesture, the method comprising: determining an identity of a user of the device; identifying, based on the identity, a motion model describing expected outputs from a motion sensor of the device when the device executes a tilt gesture by rotating back and forth about an axis of the device within a predefined period of time, the motion model comprising a plurality of thresholds, the plurality of thresholds comprising a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold; detecting, based on a first output of the motion sensor, a first acceleration of the device in a first direction about the axis of the device, wherein the motion sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer or a gyroscope; determining completion of a first stage of the tilt gesture based on a first comparison of the first output to the first threshold, the first threshold comprising a minimum rotational velocity threshold; detecting, based on a second output of the motion sensor, a second acceleration of the device in a second direction about the axis of the device, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction; determining completion of a second stage of the tilt gesture based on a second comparison of the second output to the second threshold, the second threshold comprising a zero velocity threshold; generating a third output representing rotational distance traveled by the device, the third output based on the first output and the second output; determining completion of a tilt gesture based on a third comparison of the third output to a third threshold, the third threshold representing a minimum rotational distance required to be traveled by the device; sending an indication of the completion of the tilt gesture to an application; and executing a function based on the tilt gesture by the application.