A method for displaying information in a computer system having a visual display device with available display space for displaying representations of a plurality of data items, includes receiving the plurality of data items to provide received data items, and representing the received data items with abstract visual elements on the visual display device to provide displayed abstract visual elements. An interaction with a displayed abstract visual element is received to provide a selected abstract visual element in accordance with the received interaction. A data item represented by the selected abstract visual element is displayed on the visual display device in accordance with the received interaction.