A head-mounted display device comprising: a local processor located in the head-mounted display device; a microdisplay, for displaying visual information received from the local processor; and a motion detector 1060), for detecting physical movement of a body part of a user, and to provide a motion or gesture input for controlling a desktop displayed on the microdisplay viewable by the user; the local processor further comprising: a transceiver, for receiving the motion or gesture input from the motion detector; a translator, responsive to the transceiver and translating the motion or gesture input to a user command for changing aspects of the visual information displayed on the microdisplay; an icon information overlay implemented as a user interface service or services running under an operating system executing on the local processor, wherein the icon information overlay is configured to (a) interrogate the status of the desktop to detect any displayed icon of an application program, (b) determine overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons through consultation with a table, the table associating the displayed icon or icons with the overlay text or graphics, and (c) generate on the desktop the determined overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons of the application program or programs, the generated overlay text or graphics indicating one or more possible motion or gesture inputs, for activating an action of the associated application program or programs; and a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the microdisplay, including the overlay text or graphics to be displayed. a local processor located in the head-mounted display device; a microdisplay, for displaying visual information received from the local processor; and a motion detector 1060), for detecting physical movement of a body part of a user, and to provide a motion or gesture input for controlling a desktop displayed on the microdisplay viewable by the user; the local processor further comprising: a transceiver, for receiving the motion or gesture input from the motion detector; a translator, responsive to the transceiver and translating the motion or gesture input to a user command for changing aspects of the visual information displayed on the microdisplay; an icon information overlay implemented as a user interface service or services running under an operating system executing on the local processor, wherein the icon information overlay is configured to (a) interrogate the status of the desktop to detect any displayed icon of an application program, (b) determine overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons through consultation with a table, the table associating the displayed icon or icons with the overlay text or graphics, and (c) generate on the desktop the determined overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons of the application program or programs, the generated overlay text or graphics indicating one or more possible motion or gesture inputs, for activating an action of the associated application program or programs; and a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the microdisplay, including the overlay text or graphics to be displayed. a transceiver, for receiving the motion or gesture input from the motion detector; a translator, responsive to the transceiver and translating the motion or gesture input to a user command for changing aspects of the visual information displayed on the microdisplay; an icon information overlay implemented as a user interface service or services running under an operating system executing on the local processor, wherein the icon information overlay is configured to (a) interrogate the status of the desktop to detect any displayed icon of an application program, (b) determine overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons through consultation with a table, the table associating the displayed icon or icons with the overlay text or graphics, and (c) generate on the desktop the determined overlay text or graphics associated with the displayed icon or icons of the application program or programs, the generated overlay text or graphics indicating one or more possible motion or gesture inputs, for activating an action of the associated application program or programs; and a display controller, for forwarding information to be displayed on the microdisplay, including the overlay text or graphics to be displayed.