function update_array(str, slinger_array) {

    for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) { // Loop through each character of the string

        if (slinger_array[i] == undefined) { // If array element does not exist yet, push new element

            slinger_array.push({
                "id": i,
                "value": str.charAt(i)
            });
        }
        else // if the array element exists, update only the character
        {
            slinger_array[i].value = str.charAt(i);
        }
    }

    slinger_array.length = str.length; // change length to str.length to clear out excess characters
}