Computer system with direct manipulation interface and method of operating same

A computer system with direct manipulation interface, comprising:

• a display screen;
• a pointing means capable of indicating a position on said display screen;
• image-producing means for displaying an image on said display screen, said image including one or more task-calling areas, each of said task-calling areas being individually selectable and each of said task-calling areas being associated with a predefined task to be performed by said computer system;
• handle-generating means for generating one or more handle areas associated with and proximal to at least one said task-calling area on said display screen if a handle-generating signal associated with said task-calling area is generated, each of said handle areas corresponding to an interface-modifying operation to be performed by said computer system on said task-calling area, said handle areas being removable in response to a handle-removing signal;
• editing means for causing said computer system to respond, if any one of said handle areas is selected, by effecting the task-calling area interface-modifying operation corresponding to said selected handle area;
• and
• task-performing means for causing said computer system to respond, if any one of said task-calling areas is selected, by performing the predefined task associated with said selected task-calling area, when said handle areas are currently being displayed on said display screen.