This chapter discussed many characteristics of the Workplace Shell, including the main WPS objects, the LAN independent shell objects and how they are combined to provide a comprehensive and consistent user interface.
There are three main classes of objects within the Workplace Shell: devices, containers and data objects. Within each class there are many types or "subclasses" which have specific features to enable them to perform specialized functions. For example, both folders and work areas are a type of container but work areas have a unique characteristic of being able to close any programs which were started from them when the work area is closed.
LAN integration in OS/2 V2.0 is now much easier, thanks to the LAN independent shell. Access to LAN resources is seamless, and objects can be accessed on the LAN, and then acted on, as if they were local objects. Several new icons, such as the Network folder, are placed on the desktop when LAN support is installed.