Abstract: A method of interfacing with a three-dimensional object that is displayed includes the steps of defining the three-dimensional object as a component with a component interface, displaying the component interface and interfacing with the three-dimensional object through the component interface. The component intrinsically contains an intelligent content. The present invention also provides for an apparatus with means for accomplishing the steps of the present invention as well as a computer system and computer readable medium implementing the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The diagram carrier bears a plurality of graphs of different formats in different respective tracks. A scanning station includes a plurality of scanning elements arranged in a row. The diagram carrier is moved in the direction of its tracks and perpendicular to the row of scanning elements. In synchronism with the movement of the diagram carrier, the individual scanning elements of the row are read in succession, to determine which elements are graph-line-activated. A programmed storage subdivides the row of scanning elements into sectors corresponding to respective tracks. During each reading of the row of scanning elements the first and last activated scanning elements in each sector are distinguished from the other activated scanning elements in the same sector. During each reading of the row of scanning elements, the location-numbers of the first and last activated scanning elements in each scanning element sector and the total number of activated elements in each scanning sector are registered.