1. A computer-implemented method for updating a task-management system by manipulating physical objects, the method comprising: receiving a notification at a computer system indicating that a physical icon (phycon) has been moved to a first physical location, wherein the phycon is a physical object that is associated with at least one of an element and an attribute of a task-management system, and wherein the notification comprises data for the first physical location and an image of the phycon; identifying, by using the image, an element of the task-management system that is associated with the phycon; identifying, by using the data for the first physical location, an attribute of the task-management system that is associated with the first physical location; and applying the attribute to the element in the task-management system.