An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes an earpiece that includes at least one switch that senses physical contact with an end user operating the apparatus. The contact triggers an application to be initiated for the apparatus. In more specific embodiments, one or more additional switches are provided to sense physical contact from the end user and trigger the application based on at least two of the switches sensing the contact. In still other embodiments, a microphone is provided and is coupled to a body element and operable to receive voice data from the end user.
