摘要 |
A computer system comprising a plurality of input devices and a processor. Each input device comprises a base portion, a control portion, a plurality of input keys disposed on the control portion for permitting a user to request a data input to the processor, a universal connector for connecting the control portion to the base portion and permitting the user to move the control portion universally with respect to the base portion through a plurality of first and second discrete positions in first and second directions, and a signal generator for generating signals indicating the first and second discrete position of the control portion and user data input requests. A slider is provided which provides a four discrete positions in a plurality of directions. The processor receives and processes the data input requests and positional signals. A display displays an image generated by the processor. A character selector unit presents a character presentation graphic on the display. The character presentation graphic comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of vertical clusters, each row and each vertical cluster comprising no more than five character selection icons, wherein each first discrete position corresponds to a row and each second discrete position corresponds to a vertical cluster and wherein the character selector unit selects and performs a function associated with the character selection icon corresponding to the first and second discrete positions of the control portion and the input key causing the user input data request. A rotational mechanism permits a user to rotate the control portion with respect to the base portion. |