Methods and apparatus are provided to control a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer. An object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, is displayed within the graphical user interface. A first user input is received at the first sensitive area on the object. A window slides from the object and includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while the first sensitive area continues to be displayed. A second user input is received in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons. At least one of the applications is then controlled based on the second user input.