diff --git a/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvas.java b/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvas.java
index 3c37aef..e6b26f5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvas.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvas.java
@@ -71,7 +71,11 @@
  */
 public class PCanvas extends JComponent implements PComponent {
 
+    /**
+     * @deprecated this is a typo and clients should change their code to reflect the correct spelling
+     */
     public static final String INTERATING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION = "INTERATING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION";
+    public static final String INTERACTING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION = "INTERACTING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION";
 
     public static PCanvas CURRENT_ZCANVAS = null;
 
@@ -244,7 +248,7 @@
      * canvas will normally render at a lower quality that is faster.
      */
     public boolean getInteracting() {
-        return interacting > 0;
+        return interacting > 0 || getRoot().getInteracting();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -286,7 +290,7 @@
         isInteracting = getInteracting();
 
         if (wasInteracting != isInteracting) {
-            firePropertyChange(INTERATING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION, wasInteracting, isInteracting);
+            firePropertyChange(INTERACTING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION, wasInteracting, isInteracting);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PRoot.java b/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PRoot.java
index 61fa330..2e58583 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PRoot.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PRoot.java
@@ -60,10 +60,13 @@
      */
     public static final String PROPERTY_INPUT_SOURCES = "inputSources";
     public static final int PROPERTY_CODE_INPUT_SOURCES = 1 << 14;
+    public static final String PROPERTY_INTERACTING_CHANGED = "INTERACTING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION";
+    public static final int PROPERTY_CODE_INTERACTING_CHANGED = 1 << 13;
 
     protected transient boolean processingInputs;
     protected transient boolean processInputsScheduled;
 
+    private transient int interacting;
     private PInputManager defaultInputManager;
     private transient List inputSources;
     private transient long globalTime;
@@ -163,6 +166,55 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Return true if this root has been marked as interacting. If so the root
+     * will normally render at a lower quality that is faster.
+     * 
+     * @return True if this root has user interaction taking place
+     */
+    public boolean getInteracting() {
+        return interacting > 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set if this root is interacting. If so the root will normally render at a
+     * lower quality that is faster. Also repaints the root if the the
+     * interaction has ended.
+     * <p/>
+     * This has similar functionality to the setInteracting method on Canvas,
+     * but this is the appropriate place to mark interactions that may occur in
+     * multiple canvases if this Root is shared.
+     * 
+     * @param isInteracting True if this root has user interaction taking place
+     * @see PCanvas#setInteracting(boolean)
+     */
+    public void setInteracting(boolean isInteracting) {
+        boolean wasInteracting = getInteracting();
+
+        if (isInteracting) {
+            interacting++;
+        }
+        else {
+            interacting--;
+        }
+
+        isInteracting = getInteracting();
+        if (!isInteracting) {
+            // force all the child cameras to repaint
+            for (int i = 0; i < getChildrenCount(); i++) {
+                PNode child = getChild(i);
+                if (child instanceof PCamera) {
+                    child.repaint();
+                }
+            }
+
+        }
+        if (wasInteracting != isInteracting) {
+            firePropertyChange(PROPERTY_CODE_INTERACTING_CHANGED, PROPERTY_INTERACTING_CHANGED, Boolean
+                    .valueOf(wasInteracting), Boolean.valueOf(isInteracting));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Advanced. If you want to add additional input sources to the roots UI
      * process you can do that here. You will seldom do this unless you are
      * making additions to the piccolo framework.
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvasTest.java b/core/src/test/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvasTest.java
index c21d109..3c3ea43 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvasTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/edu/umd/cs/piccolo/PCanvasTest.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 
     public void testSetInteractingFiresChangeEvent() {
         MockPropertyChangeListener mockListener = new MockPropertyChangeListener();
-        canvas.addPropertyChangeListener(PCanvas.INTERATING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION, mockListener);
+        canvas.addPropertyChangeListener(PCanvas.INTERACTING_CHANGED_NOTIFICATION, mockListener);
         canvas.setInteracting(true);
         assertEquals(1, mockListener.getPropertyChangeCount());
     }