A method for using a virtual mouse to interact with an electronic device, comprising: executing a computer aided design application on an electronic device, the CAD application showing a user interface including a view of a CAD model on a touch screen display of the electronic device; displaying the virtual mouse within the user interface of the CAD application on the touch screen display of the electronic device, the virtual mouse including a pointer represented as a crosshair identifying a position and providing persistent position tracking, the crosshair having an appearance that dynamically changes depending on whether a task being performed with the virtual mouse in the CAD application relates to an element of the CAD model or a point within the view of the CAD model, and a control region positioned proximate to, but offset from, the pointer, the control region including a movement area for receiving touch input that is mapped to movement of the virtual mouse on the touch screen display, the movement area having a size less than the entire touch screen display of the electronic device, and a number of buttons for performing one or more actions related to an element of the CAD model or a point within the view of the CAD model located at the identified position, the number of the buttons responsive to both a current usage of the virtual mouse within the user interface of the CAD application and the element of the CAD model or point within the view of the CAD model at the position identified by the pointer of the virtual mouse; providing a hover over effect, where in response to the cursor being maintained over a location for a period of time information is displayed; receiving touch input in the movement area of the virtual mouse; moving the virtual mouse, including the pointer, in response to the touch input in the movement area; receiving a button press upon one of the number of buttons of the virtual mouse; and causing an action to be performed that is related to the element of the CAD model or the point within the view of the CAD model located at the identified position, in response to the button press. executing a computer aided design application on an electronic device, the CAD application showing a user interface including a view of a CAD model on a touch screen display of the electronic device; displaying the virtual mouse within the user interface of the CAD application on the touch screen display of the electronic device, the virtual mouse including a pointer represented as a crosshair identifying a position and providing persistent position tracking, the crosshair having an appearance that dynamically changes depending on whether a task being performed with the virtual mouse in the CAD application relates to an element of the CAD model or a point within the view of the CAD model, and a control region positioned proximate to, but offset from, the pointer, the control region including a movement area for receiving touch input that is mapped to movement of the virtual mouse on the touch screen display, the movement area having a size less than the entire touch screen display of the electronic device, and a number of buttons for performing one or more actions related to an element of the CAD model or a point within the view of the CAD model located at the identified position, the number of the buttons responsive to both a current usage of the virtual mouse within the user interface of the CAD application and the element of the CAD model or point within the view of the CAD model at the position identified by the pointer of the virtual mouse; providing a hover over effect, where in response to the cursor being maintained over a location for a period of time information is displayed; receiving touch input in the movement area of the virtual mouse; moving the virtual mouse, including the pointer, in response to the touch input in the movement area; receiving a button press upon one of the number of buttons of the virtual mouse; and causing an action to be performed that is related to the element of the CAD model or the point within the view of the CAD model located at the identified position, in response to the button press.