Patent ID: 6839780

Claim:
A connection device for a computer comprising a connection part and an input/output controller, the connection part comprising a plurality of optical fibres embedded in a substrate, each optical fibre extending from a first end associated with an operative surface of the connection part to a second end, the operative surface of said connection part being of a sufficient size to physically support said at least one peripheral device and to permit lateral movement of said at least one peripheral device on said operative surface, the input/output controller comprising a plurality of light detectors and a plurality of light emitters, wherein the second end of each optical fibre is associated with at least one light emitter and/or at least one light detector, and wherein the input/output controller is operable to receive a message from the at least one peripheral device when physically disposed upon the operative surface, the message being transmitted via the connection part, the message comprising an identifier associated with the at least one peripheral device.