The goal of the dashboard is to automatically show a user useful files and other objects as he goes about his day. While you read email, browse the web, write a document, or talk to your friends on IM, the dashboard does its best to proactively find objects that are relevant to your current activity, and to display them in a friendly way, saving you from digging around through your stuff like a disorganized filing clerk.

For example, if a friend IMs you and says 'I can't wait for our camping trip this weekend!' the dashboard will show things like your recent emails about the camping trip, your camping bookmarks, and any files or notes you've got on your computer about camping.