Abstract: A method and system for allowing a user to perform electronic data gathering. A data target icon floats over the other open windows and is always visible regardless of what other applications are in use. The data target icon serves as a “hotspot” for the user to save “gems” of data into a gem database. The user may, for example, drag and drop the item to be saved as a gem onto the data target icon. The data target icon serves as an entry-point into other features of a user interface. For example, by double clicking the data target icon, the user will be led to a gem toolbar. The gem toolbar can be used to access the various activities, such as a gem explorer, etc. In the described embodiment, the gem toolbar is implemented as a foldable window, in which windows are expanded in alternating orthogonal directions.