[jitter] video controlled by sensors?

Hi, all.  I was thinking of doing some kind of art installation for a research grant at the university I attend.  I have in mind a setup in which a jitter patch would run video and subsequently manipulate what it is playing depending on how close a subject is to the patch/computer.  As in, students could walk around a gallery holding something (accelerometer? Sensor of some kind?) and visit different stations, interacting with them.

I know of a fellow student who used a Wii remote to change audio in a max/MSP patch using bluetooth, but that's about as far as my knowledge and experience goes.  I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how I could make this a reality?  All I really have experience with is controlling jitter objects with midi data (xsession pro controller).  Thanks for any ideas/suggestions, I really appreciate it!

-Anna