Patent ID: 8519979

Claim:
A computer-implemented graphical modeling system comprising: a display to display a graphical model, where the graphical model comprises: a first element having a first connection port, and a second element having a second connection port; and an interface to receive tactile input from a user, the interface comprising: a substantially planar surface for receiving the tactile input from the user and for allowing the user to view the graphical model, and at least one edge for receiving optical energy from a source proximate to the at least one edge, the optical energy internally reflected with respect to the substantially planar surface and another surface when the tactile input is absent with respect to the substantially planar surface, where the interface manipulates the displayed graphical model based on an interaction between the user and the display, where the interaction is one of: one part of the user interacting with the display; one part and another part of the user simultaneously interacting with the display; or a plurality of parts of the user simultaneously interacting with the display, and the tactile input from the user manipulating the displayed graphical model by: connecting the first and the second displayed element via a connection when the tactile input from the user selects the first connection port of the first displayed element and the second connection port of the second displayed element, and at least one of: adjusting the connection between the first displayed element and the second displayed element when the first displayed element is manipulated by additional tactile input from the user, or removing the connection between the first displayed element and the second displayed element by additional tactile input from the user selecting the second connection port of the second displayed element and selecting the first connection port of the first displayed element.