An interactive media table that includes a tabletop that supports of plurality of movable objects each of which is identified by a unique identification code and each of which can be moved from place to place on said tabletop surface by one or more media table users. A display unit produces a visual image on the surface of the tabletop surface and a position tracking system determines the current positions of each of said movable objects by transmitting timed acoustic signals to each movable object, sensing the timing of arrival of these signals using an acoustic pickup on each object, and estimating the location of the object by triangulation. An infrared communications network exchanges timing information, commands and data between the objects and a controller which provides an API to a personal computer which executes an application program that controls the display.