A system and method of presenting widgets to a user during a multi-modal interactive dialog between a user and a computer is presented. The system controls the multi-modal dialog; and when user input would help to clarify or speed up the presentation of requested information, the system presents a temporary widget to the user to elicit the user input in this regard. The system presents the widget on a display screen at a position that will not interfere with the dialog. Various types of widgets are available, such as button widgets, sliders and confirmation widgets, depending on the type of information that the system requires.