Method and system for activating an application on a portable electronic device

A portable electronic device comprising:

• a display device;
• a user interface component;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising instructions that when executed by said portable electronic device implement a method of activating an application on said portable electronic device, said method comprising:
• displaying a plurality of elements on said display device, wherein each element of said plurality of elements is associated with a respective application of a plurality of applications;
• in response to a first user interaction with said user interface component, changing an appearance of a first element of said plurality of elements during execution of a second application, wherein said first element is associated with a first application of said plurality of applications, said first user interaction comprising a user interaction along a first axis;
• and
• in response to a second user interaction with said user interface component, activating said first application during execution of said second application, said second user interaction comprising a user interaction along a second axis.

A portable electronic device comprising:

• means for displaying a plurality of elements on a display device of said portable electronic device, wherein each element of said plurality of elements is associated with a respective application of a plurality of applications;
• means for changing, in response to a first user interaction with a user interface component of said portable electronic device, an appearance of a first element of said plurality of elements during execution of a second application, wherein said first element is associated with a first application of said plurality of applications, said first user interaction comprising a user interaction along a first axis;
• and
• means for activating said first application during execution of said second application in response to a second user interaction with said user interface component, said second user interaction comprising a user interaction along a second axis.