Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of a digital computer system having a memory, visual display, and keyboard employs software for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) in the form of representations of successive tasks. This display is effected in a format which contains, in part, an unchanging representation of at least a core plurality of the keys of the keyboard used with the digital computer system. This representation is displayed in the same arrangement used on the keyboard. The GUI then further indicates within the unchanging representation of the core plurality of keys, a dynamically changeable function representation of the functions to be performed upon operation of the corresponding one of the displayed keys. This changeable function representation changes in a hierarchal sequence in response to successive operations of selected ones of the keys, as indicated on the visual display of the GUI.