Processing non-spatial input by multiple program elements of a computer program executed on a computer

A computer comprising:

• a processing system comprising a processing unit and a memory, the processing system executing an operating system and computer programs, the computer programs including a first program element and a second program element, each program element having a state managed by the operating system indicative whether the program element is an active program element, wherein the first program element and the second program element, when executed by the processing system under management of the operating system, are operative to:
• determine, by the first program element when the first program element is the active program element and in response to receiving a non-spatial input event, whether to request the second program element to process the non-spatial input event;
• send, by the first program element in response to a determination to request the second program element to process the non-spatial input event, a request to the second program element indicating the non-spatial input event;
• determine, by the second program element in response to the request from the first program element, whether to become the active element;
• request, by the second program element in response to a determination to become the active element, the operating system to make the second program element the active program element;
• determine, by the operating system in response to the request from the second program element, whether to activate the second program element;
• and
• deactivate, by the operating system in response to a determination to activate the second program element, the first program element, and update stored information indicating states of at least the first program element and the second program element, and inform the first program element and the second program element that the state has been updated.