Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment

A system, comprising:

• a user device adapted to receive input from a user, the user device configured to provide input information based upon the input received from the user associated with manipulation of a graphical object in a graphical environment;
• a processor configured to determine a force effect to be output based on the input information, the user preference information further including information associated with at least one force effect from a plurality of force effects, each force effect from the plurality of force effects being associated with a type of graphical object from a plurality of types of graphical objects;
• a means for outputting a signal configured to cause the at least one force effect to be output when a cursor displayed in the graphical user interface interacts with a graphical object having a first type from the at least one type, the graphical object being associated with an application program from a plurality of application programs configured to run simultaneously, each application program from the plurality of application programs being configured to associate a force effect from the plurality of force effects with a graphical object from a plurality of graphical objects associated with that application program, each application program from the plurality of application programs being configured to interact with a background application program, the background application program being configured to associate a force effect from the plurality of force effects with at least one application program from the plurality of application programs.