Current computer systems are still based on the WIMP paradigm from the beginning of the graphical user interface. The design requirements from that time changed a lot in relation to todays use of computers. In the beginning of the GUI the computer was standing besides the desk while most of the work was still done on paper. This role changed. But there are several tasks which were natural in the past but impossible today. One of these tasks is to simply annotate an email, webpage, layout, briefing etc. People print out their digital documents to simply highlight some words or write notes in the margin.

The idiom of files and folders is part of the daily computer experience. It proofed to be a very efficient and successful solution for file management. The concept of that system is from a time where the requirements for a file handling tool where quite different in comparison to today. There are some situations/tasks in which the very flexible system of files and folders creates an unnecessary redundancy which result in a time consuming and attention sucking interaction. One of these tasks is the documenting of received and send out files. In the real world everybody needs to organize the inbox and outbox in a consistent and effective manner. How is that realized in todays computer systems and does the idiom of files and folders do a good job here?