Method of instructing a computer system using an interface surface

A method for enabling instruction of a computer to perform tasks, the method including the steps of in a computer system:

• providing a user with a first interface surface having first interactive elements including at least one command interactive element and at least one object interactive element, the first interface surface including first coded data at least partially indicative of the interactive elements, wherein the first coded data is substantially invisible in the visible spectrum;
• receiving indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device sensing at least some of the first coded data when the sensing device is moved relative to the first interface surface and generating the indicating data using the sensed first coded data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of a stroke designating the first interactive elements, wherein the sensing device includes a marking nib;
• a non-marking nib;
• and a force sensor which indicates whether the sensing device is in contact with the first interface surface, wherein the indicating data received by the processing system is indicative of whether or not the sensing device is in contact with the first interface surface;
• determining, using the indicating data, the first interactive elements designated by the stroke;
• determining, using data stored therein, whether the sensing device is being operated using one of a marking nib and a non-marking nib;
• applying a command to at least one object using the designated interactive elements;- and
• in response to applying the command to the at least one object, and in response to determining that the sensing device is being operated using the non-marking nib, and without further user intervention, printing, using a single printer, a second interface surface, upon receiving the indicating data indicative of the sensing device failing to be in contact with the first interface surface, the interface surface having visual information representing a secondary interactive element and second coded data at least partially indicative of the secondary interactive element, wherein the second coded data is substantially invisible in the visible spectrum.