A system and process for controlling common information displays, referred to as shared displays, is presented. The system and process allows multiple modes of input using a set of modules that accept and display data from a variety of sources. Input modules are able to understand data from a single mode of communication and to be able to generate messages as output accordingly. An optional translation module takes discrete message units and converts them into commands or requests that can be processed by a logic module. The logic module includes any application that is running on the shared display. A layout module lays out the information output by the logic module and a display module takes the layout data and converts the information to a form that can be readily displayed on a display device.