A method for generating a haptic interactive representation including the
steps of defining a haptic interaction space and building a hierarchical
construct, for use within the haptic interaction space, using a plurality
of underlying constructs. In one embodiment the method includes
determining the forces to be applied to a user by generating a haptic
interactive, sensing a position of a user in real space, determining a
haptic interface location in the haptic interaction space in response to
the position of the user in real space and determining whether the
virtual object collides with the haptic interface location. The invention
also relates to a method for interacting with a haptic interactive
representation. The method includes creating a haptic process having the
haptic interactive representation, associating a callback with the haptic
process, connecting to a second process which interacts with the haptic
process and associating the callback which is associated with the haptic
process with the second process. The method further includes requesting
the callback by the second process, and returning, by the haptic process
through the callback to the second process, at least one parameter
associated with the haptic interactive representation.