Heterogeneous content channel manager for ubiquitous computer software systems

In an environment having two or more interactive workspaces, wherein each one of said interactive workspaces is characterized by multiple users, multiple independent visual displays, a plurality of different channels each having one of a plurality of different channel types, a network connecting said interactive workspaces, said multiple independent visual displays and said plurality of different channels, and wherein each channel represents some static or dynamic content in the interactive workspace which corresponds with said channel's type, comprising the method steps of:

• (a) displaying on each one of said multiple independent visual displays in said interactive workspaces a content channel bar, wherein said content channel bar contains two or more unique representations of respectively two or more of said plurality of different channels available in said interactive workspaces, wherein within the set of available channels two or more different channel types are represented, wherein further each one of said two or more unique representations in said content channel bar represents different and unique content supported by its respective channel and its type, and wherein each one of said unique representations is networked or linked to the respective content available on said respective channel;
• (b) selecting a desired channel from said plurality of different channels in said channel bar by selecting one of said unique representations from said channel bar that represents said desired channel;
• and
• (c) displaying on the visual display where said channel selection was made the content represented by said selected unique representation and channel in a manner appropriate for the channel's type, wherein said selected display originates from within the same interactive workspace or from one of the other interactive workspaces.