Layer-based user interface

A computer program comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising:

• arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being invisible;
• choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components;
• said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component;
• launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating a third layer that was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said launching the application and simultaneously maintaining the display of said second layer that is visible on the user interface of the computing device;
• and
• wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.

An apparatus comprising means for executing a computer program embodied on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising:

• arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being invisible;
• choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components;
• said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component;
• launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating a third layer that was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said launching the application and simultaneously maintaining the display of said second layer that is visible on the user interface of the computing device;
• and
• wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.