User interface for a quick activity window

1 . A user interface for assisting the user in performing a task and shielding the user from complex data, the user interface including a window on a computer screen comprising:

a first pane for displaying instructions to a user regarding the task;

a second pane for displaying a content form and receiving the user's input into the content form, wherein the content form displays only a subset of the available data objects relating to the task; and

a third pane for displaying actions related to the task.

2 . The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth pane for displaying one or more core functions and receiving the user's selection of core functions.

3 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the second pane displays only a read-only list of data.

4 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the content form of the second pane is pre-filled upon display of the content form and prior to the user entering any data.

5 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the related activities in the third pane are secondary activities that are related to the task.

6 . The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the third pane is also for receiving user selection of one of the secondary activities.

7 . The user interface of claim 6 , wherein the user interface launches the secondary activity received from the user.

8 . The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the secondary activities include links to structured data.

9 . The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the secondary activities include links to unstructured data.

10 . The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the secondary activities include links to communications tools.

11 . A method of providing a user interface for assisting a user in performing a task and shielding the user from the complexity of the task, comprising:

providing a window having:

a first pane for displaying instructions to a user regarding the task;

a second pane for displaying a content form and receiving the user's input into the content form, wherein the content form only displays a subset of the data objects relating to the task; and

a third pane for displaying actions related to the task.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further providing the window with a fourth pane for displaying one or more core functions and receiving the user's selection of core functions.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further providing second pane of the window with only a read-only list of data.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the content form of the second pane is pre-filled upon display of the content form and prior to the user entering any data.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the related activities in the third pane are secondary activities that are related to the task.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third pane is also for receiving user selection of one of the secondary activities.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user interface launches the secondary activity received from the user.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the secondary activities include links to structured data.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the secondary activities include links to unstructured data.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the secondary activities include links to communications tools.

21 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions, the execution of which causes a computer to provide a window having:

a first pane for displaying instructions to a user regarding the task;

a second pane for displaying a content form and receiving the user's input into the content form, wherein the content form displays only a subset of the available data objects relating to the task; and

a third pane for displaying actions related to the task.