Patent ID: 8869027

Claim:
A method comprising: identifying, by a computing device having a desktop, a plurality of widgets for installation in a dashboard environment based on a user selection of widgets, where the plurality of widgets comprise separate applications, an installed widget presently executes an associated function including providing a presentation aspect associated with the executing function, and the desktop is inactive when the dashboard environment is active; determining whether installing any of the plurality of widgets in the dashboard environment violates any rules that prevent installation of at least one of a specific widget or widgets that provide access to a specific type of information; associating the plurality of widgets with the dashboard environment; installing the dashboard environment in a display environment including displaying the plurality of widgets executing in the dashboard environment, wherein, when the dashboard environment is active, a desktop environment is temporarily inactive; and wherein determining rules includes: determining a rule for managing the dashboard environment; evaluating the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and installing only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.