Physical action languages for distributed tangible user interface systems

A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine wherein said program of instruction comprises a plurality of program codes for using a plurality of physically manipulable objects as an interface, said program of instruction comprising:

• program code for detecting a physical interaction with one or more physically manipulable objects;
• program code for determining whether the physical interaction matches a predefined action parameter;
• and
• responsive to the physical interaction matching the predefined action parameter, program code for updating one or more software elements corresponding to the one or more physically manipulable objects.

A distributed tangible user interface system, comprising:

• a plurality of physically manipulable objects wherein each object includes a plurality of sensors operative to detect a physical interaction with one or more physically manipulable objects;
• a host computer communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of physically manipulable objects;
• and
• a plurality of software portions, wherein one of said software portions is configured to determining whether the physical interaction matches a predefined action parameter and, responsive to the physical interaction matching the predefined action parameter, another one of said software portions is configured to update one or more software elements corresponding to the one or more physically manipulable objects.

A method for interacting with a computing device, comprising:

• physically interacting with one or more of a plurality of physically manipulable objects wherein each of the plurality of manipulable objects possesses a state;
• gathering physical interaction data from said physically manipulable objects;
• communicating said physical interaction data to a software architecture;
• determining whether the physical interaction data matches one or more predefined action parameters;
• and
• responsive to the physical interaction data matching at least one of the one or more predefined action parameters, updating the state of the one or more physically manipulable objects.