User interface system with active and passive display spaces

A method of operating a graphical user interface system, the graphical user interface system including one or more display devices that provide a passive display space, an active display space, and an exchange area, the active display space and the exchange area being provided on a single display device, wherein the active display space, the passive display space, and the exchange area are mutually exclusive screen locations on the one or more display devices, the method comprising:

• displaying one or more objects in the passive display space and a visual representation of each object of the one or more objects in the exchange area, wherein a size, position, and alignment of each object in the passive display space is automatically adjusted by the graphical user interface system based on a positioning of the visual representation of the object in the exchange area and based on a size and quantity of other objects displayed in the passive display space;
• receiving a selection in the exchange area of the visual representation of a first object displayed in the passive display space;
• and
• in response to receiving the selection, displaying the first object in the active display space,
• wherein the first object is not displayed in the active display space when the selection in the exchange area of the visual representation of the first object is received, and
• wherein the first object is operable in response to commands received through the graphical user interface system while displayed in the active display space.