System and method providing a computer user interface enabling access to distributed workgroup members

A computer system providing communication services for accessing users, comprising:

• a plurality of computers, each computer associated with a user, and including:
• a user interface display for displaying a visual representation of each of a number of second users selected by a first user, wherein the visual representation of each second user is determined from a level of activity of the second user detected by the computer of the second user;
• and
• at least one communication service accessible from the user interface display, and capable of establishing a communication link between a first computer of the first user and a computer of at least one second user in response to a first input by the first user in the user interface display selecting the visual representation of at least one second user.

A computer system providing communication services for accessing users, comprising:

• a plurality of computers, each computer associated with a user, and including:
• a user interface display for displaying a visual representation of each of a number of second users selected by a first user, and an object shelf adapted to:
• receive at least one data item from the user associated with the computer
• display the at least one data item to at least one other user;
• and
• enable a user to copy the at least one data item to a memory accessible by the computer of the user;
• and
• at least one communication service accessible from the user interface display, and capable of establishing a communication link between a first computer of the first user and at least one computer of a second user in response to a first input by the first user selecting the at least one second user.

In a computer system including a plurality of computers, each computer controlled by a user, a computer implemented method of providing information to a first user about selected second users, comprising:

• storing a predetermined visual representation for each of a plurality of users;
• receiving from the first user selections of second users for displaying the visual representations of the selected second users to the first user;
• for each selected second user, detecting a level of activity of the second user with a computer used by the second user;
• for each selected second user, determining the visual representation of each selected second user displayed in the first display area from the level of activity of the second user detected by the computer used by the second user;
• and
• for the first user, displaying in a window on the computer controlled by the first user, the visual representations of the selected second users.

In a computer system for multiple users, a computer readable memory accessible by a first computer of a first user, the first computer having a processor and a first display, the memory storing at least one computer program executable by the processor and that provides communications between selected users, the computer program controlling the processor to:

• determine for a first user selected second users for displaying a visual representations of the selected second users on the first display, the visual representation of each selected second user determined from a level of activity of the second user detected by a computer used by the second user;
• display in a first display area on a selected first window on the first display, the visual representations of the selected second users;
• receive in the first window on the first display a selection of a visual representation of at least one second user displayed in the first window;
• receive on the first display a selection of a communication mechanism;
• and,
• establish a computer controlled communication between the first user and the at least one second user using the selected communication mechanism.