Abstract: A machine-implemented method for building, publishing and executing interactive content applications using an XML-based language is described. In one embodiment, static content is processed or annotated to generate XML that conforms to an Interaction Markup Language (IML). IML is an XML-based language designed to represent, store, and render user interaction semantics for any printed or computer displayed content. IML is cross-platform, portable, and human readable. The IML language enables a programmer to define rich user interactions (called Interaction Objects) that include, for example, automatic user input assessment and evaluation, user feedback, hinting, adaptive behavior, and looping. IML provides for the definition of both Interaction Objects that are bound to regions on a page or computer display. Preferably, the syntax and semantics of IML allows the “meaning” of an interaction to be defined and interpreted by any runtime engine that executes IML.