Rapid visual sorting of digital files and data

In a computing environment, a method for visually arranging and rapidly categorizing digital photographs based on interaction by a user with a graphical user interface displaying the digital photographs and available categories for the digital photographs, the method comprising:

• accessing a set of digital photograph files available for categorization by a user into one or more of a plurality of different categories;
• displaying a plurality of digital photograph files of the set of digital photograph files, wherein all of the displayed plurality of digital photograph files are arranged in a generally linear, horizontal stream of images;
• displaying at least a first category above the generally linear, horizontal stream of images and at least a second category below the generally linear, horizontal stream of images, the at least a first category and at least a second category representing different categories for sorting the set of digital photographs, and each of the first category and the second category having an associated category area, wherein the category areas for the first and second categories include a display of thumbnail images of the digital photograph files of the set of digital photograph, the displayed thumbnail images being associated with digital photograph files associated with each respective category;
• receiving user scrolling instructions to scroll horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images, wherein the user scrolling instructions consist of a user selecting a left or right directional button;
• in response to receipt of the user scrolling instructions, scrolling horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images, and wherein scrolling horizontally through the linear, horizontal stream of images automatically selects at least one particular digital photograph file corresponding to an image displayed in a middle portion of the horizontal stream of images;
• receiving user sorting instructions to sort the selected at least one particular digital photograph file into one of the first category or the second category, wherein the user sorting instructions consist of a user depressing an up or down directional button;
• storing category information in association with the particular digital photograph file, the category information corresponding to how the particular digital photograph file has been categorized by the user by selection of the up or down directional button;
• and
• displaying a thumbnail image of the selected particular digital photograph file within the category area for the selected one of the first category or the second category.