Patent ID: 8310449

Claim:
A method for a touch interface system that includes a computer, a computer monitor having a display screen, a push-button device, and a signal output component, wherein the computer monitor is connected to the computer, wherein the signal output component is connected to the push-button device, and wherein the push-button device includes a plurality of push-buttons, each push-button having a first stage portion and a second stage portion, the method comprising: coupling the push-button device to the display screen of the computer monitor by sending a signal from the push-button device via the signal output component to the computer and communicating the signal from the computer to the computer monitor; displaying a display matrix as a display layer on the display screen of the computer monitor, the display matrix displaying a plurality of display items, each display item being associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons of the push-button device; and displaying a second display layer that is different from the display matrix on the display screen of the computer monitor; when the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons is activated by a user, sending a first signal that results in a modification of the corresponding display item on the display matrix to indicate to the user that the user is contacting the push-button corresponding to the modified display item; and when the second stage portion of the one push-button is activated by the user, sending a second signal that results in a modification of the second display layer on the display screen of the computer monitor, wherein the display matrix is displayed as a single display layer on the display screen of the computer monitor, wherein the display matrix and the second display layer are displayed at the same time on the display screen of the computer monitor, wherein the display matrix is displayed on top of the second display layer, and wherein the modification of the corresponding display item comprises highlighting the corresponding display item within the display matrix.