Abstract: Disclosed is a method of displaying a hierarchical file structure. The method determines a visual arrangement (100) of containers (102) which reflects a hierarchical relationship of the file structure. A concentric curved shape is then formed representing each container in the file structure and files within the containers, the curved shape having a geometry and location according to the determined visual arrangement. A viewpoint (600) is then established for the curved shape which is substantially radial thereto and allows viewing from a root container of the file structure towards one or more child containers of the file structure. The curved shape is then rendered, relative to the viewpoint, to a display (2114). Desirably, the files within a container (102) are represented as a tower (104) in the curved shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a graphical representation (602) formed of at least one template having a plurality of graphical objects arranged in a predetermined number of rendering layers (702, 703, 706, 707) spanning a geometric space. At least one of the layers (702, 703) has user-alterable parameters and incorporates at least one multiply instantiated user-definable graphical object (204) distributed upon the at least one layer according to application of the parameters to a plurality of presentation rules. A method for forming such a graphical representation from a template is also disclosed. The method includes accessing at least one user-manipulable effect definition (129) associated with one of the rendering layers (109). The effect definition has parameter information defining characteristics of the one layer.