Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for inputting information to an electronic device using the primary digit and first and second ancillary digits of the operator's hand. In the preferred embodiment, the operator's index finger acts as the primary digit while the middle finger and thumb act as the first and second ancillary digits, respectively. The apparatus includes an interface surface having a selector pad divided into a plurality of selector pad switches. In the preferred embodiment, the nine selector pad switches are arranged on the interface surface according to a 3.times.3 array for activation by the operator's index finger. Located laterally and below the selector pad are two address switches capable of being selected by the middle finger and thumb of the hand. Using the two address switches, each selector pad switch located in the selector pad may be assigned up to four possible switch addresses. A microprocessor assigns a code element taken from a programmable code table to each address. By using the digits to select the various combinations of switches, the operator is able to input information into an electronic device designed to receive such information. In one embodiment, the code elements are phonemes take from a modified set of IPA phonemes assigned to the code table.

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First Claim