Supporting user interactions with rendered graphical objects

A tangible computer-readable medium storing thereon instructions that implement a graphical object management module configured to operate independently from a software framework that provides a pixel buffer to the graphical object management module, which the software framework displays via a user interface, wherein the graphical object management module, when executed on one or more processors to, is configured to:

• render a graphical object to the pixel buffer, wherein the software framework does not have direct access to the graphical object in the pixel buffer;
• cause the software framework to generate an invisible element positionable in accordance with input received via the user interface;
• and
• in response to the invisible element being repositioned, automatically reposition the graphical object within the pixel buffer in accordance with a change in the position of the invisible element.

A method in a computing device for supporting user interactions with graphical objects rendered as pixels to a pixel buffer, the method comprising:

• rendering a feature to the pixel buffer;
• receiving an indication that a cursor is positioned over the feature while the contents of the pixel buffer are being displayed on a display device of the computing device;
• associating an invisible element with the feature, wherein the invisible element is repositioned in accordance with the cursor;
• and
• repositioning the feature in the pixel buffer in accordance with a change in positioning of the invisible element as the positioning of the invisible element changes.

A computing device comprising:

• a user interface;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a computer-readable memory storing thereon:
• a pixel buffer;
• first instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, implement a web browser that displays the contents of the pixel buffer via the user interface;
• second instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• (i) render a graphical object to the pixel buffer, wherein the web browser does not have direct access to the graphical object in the pixel buffer,
• (ii) in response to detecting that a cursor is positioned over the graphical object displayed via the user interface, cause the web browser to create an invisible element positioned under the cursor, wherein the web browser automatically repositions the invisible element in accordance with a movement of the cursor;
• (iii) determine a change in the position of the invisible element, and
• (iv) reposition the graphical object within the pixel buffer in accordance with the change in the position of the invisible element.