Patent ID: 8493406

Claim:
A computing system, comprising: one or more processors; a display device; and one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are structured such that, when executed by the one or more processors, the computing system is caused to render at least the following on a user interface at the display device: a first set of one or more data visual items, each having associated data; a second set of a plurality of element visual items, each being configured to be rendered using corresponding data that is applied to a corresponding set of one or more input parameters provided to corresponding construction logic, and by executing the corresponding construction logic; a first user interaction mechanism that enables a user to use a first set of one or more gestures to apply the associated data of the first set of data visual items to the input parameters of the second set of element visual items, wherein use of the first user interaction mechanism alters a visual appearance of the second set of element visual items according to the associated data; a third visual item having associated one or more properties; and a second user interaction mechanism that enables the user to use a second set of one or more gestures to merge the altered second set of element visual items into the third visual item subsequent to having used the first user interaction mechanism to apply the associated data of the first set of data visual items to the input parameters of the second set of element visual items, wherein merging the second set of element visual items into the third visual item causes the one or more properties of the third visual item to alter at least one of the one or more input parameters and to further alter the visual appearance of the second set of element visual items.