1. In a computer system, a method for displaying user-created objects over images on a computer screen to simulate annotations and pointers over said images by one or more users, wherein said images are generated, controlled, and manipulated by one or more active application programs and the user-created objects include annotation objects and pointer objects where the annotation objects and pointer object for a particular user is of a particular color wherein an annotation object highlights a part of said images and a pointer objects directs to an area of said images, comprising the steps of: a) creating a transparent window appearing to be displayed over said images, said transparent window providing an environment for creation, manipulation, and deletion of user-created objects; b) creating and displaying one or more of said user-created objects at user specified locations in said transparent window and storing data representing said user-created objects; c) determining any overlapping portion of said user-created objects and displaying said overlapping portion of said user-created objects according to a predetermined hierarchy; d) repeating step b and c until a first user command to close said transparent window is received; and e) responding to said first user command by closing said transparent window and returning to said application programs.