Abstract: A Finite Element Analysis system having intelligent, interactive user interface features allows engineers without specialized knowledge in mathematical modeling to easily and interactively solve diverse problems. The system includes a digitizer tablet having a segmented work surface for entering pictorial data and for alternately selecting among processing modes from a menu. Alternate displays on a status screen are automatically correlated with the user positioning of a stylus on the digitizer tablet surface to provide the user with the information he needs for a particular contemplated action. A graphics screen displays a dumb cursor which tracks the position of the stylus in the graphics workspace of the digitizer tablet. An intelligent cursor automatically drawn on the graphics screen by a computer processor identifies a site of interest nearest the current location of the dumb cursor.