Some aspects of the invention provide an interactive, touch-sensitive user interface device. A user interface device for a data processing system is provided, which includes a sensor having a surface configured to contactingly receive a pointing device and further configured to detect physical contact by a living human and to differentiate between said physical contact and movement of the pointing device when the pointing device is engaged with the surface. The user interface device is operable to transmit information corresponding to said physical contact to the data processing system.