Folded scrolling

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for displaying content on a computer display, the method comprising:

• displaying the content items within a display area on the computer display, wherein content items surrounding a current point of interest are displayed within a visible region of the display area;
• if the visible region has insufficient space to display some of the content items,
• selecting a portion of the content items to be collapsed;
• collapsing the selected content items into one or more folds within the display area, wherein a fold is a compact representation of a contiguous group of adjacent content items and is located in place of the contiguous group of adjacent content items;
• and
• for each fold, displaying a summary of the collapsed content items in the fold.

An apparatus that displays a content on a computer display, comprising:

• a displaying mechanism configured to display the content items within a display area on the computer display, wherein content items surrounding a current point of interest are displayed within a visible region of the display area;;
• a folding mechanism, wherein if the visible region has insufficient space to display some content items, the folding mechanism is configured to:
• select a portion of the content items to be collapsed;
• collapse the selected content items into one or more folds within the display area, wherein a fold is a compact representation of a contiguous group of adjacent content items and is located in place of the contiguous group of adjacent content items;
• and
• for each fold, to display a summary of the collapsed content items in the fold.