Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided, comprising a display screen area for providing visual feedback and for receiving gestures inputs, and a switching controller to enable switching between multiple applications that have been executed on the device, the switching controller being adapted to interact with an operating system on the device and including a number of software components that interact with components that are native to an operating system on the device, and wherein the device further comprises a processor for invoking procedures relating to the particular components of the switching controller, wherein the switching controller comprises a task management component for maintaining an ordered list of tasks that are running on the device and allowing for task status to be changed.