1. A computer-implemented method for a user interface directed to discovering and publishing presence information on a network, comprising: determining whether a local user is present on the network; determining whether a nearby user is present on the network; instantiating a portion of the user interface for peripheral and unobtrusive notification of the presence of the local user and the presence of the nearby user on the network; and displaying the presence of the local user and the presence of the nearby user in the portion of the user interface when the local user is determined to be present on the network.