1. A method for accessing functionality of applications in a computer system, the method comprising: configuring at least one of a plurality of active thumbnail images as an active control panel containing one or more active control regions embedded within the active thumbnail image, wherein the one or more active control regions of each active thumbnail image are configured to provide access to functionality of an application, the application comprising a workflow application, and wherein the active control regions are configured to provide the same functionality independent of an interface native to the application; displaying the at least one active thumbnail in response to a user request; receiving a control signal with respect to a specific active control region embedded in the at least one active thumbnail; and upon receiving the control signal, operating the configured functionality of the application using the active thumbnail image independent of the interface native to the application.