Input device

The present invention is a data entry device featuring a novel way of touch-typing on a small smart-device using two or more opposing touchpad surfaces positioned around a display, said surfaces comprising a housing. Bumps or other touch sensitive features are arrayed around the periphery of a digital display on the device. The bumps or other touch sensitive features provide both a locating means for finger placement and a zone for sensing the shift of a pressure point or sensing motion of the finger along the surface, the shift or motion in a preferred direction indicating a selection from a displayed menu to be made by lifting the finger from contact. A novel way of holding the device by its wrist band or handle or strap while fingering the bumps leads to a fluid method of keying functionalities for use as a phone and as an internet-enabled texting device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to data input devices, and more particularly to a keyboard device on a handheld object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The miniaturization of electronic devices has increasingly made them more portable and convenient to carry. Wireless devices, such as cell phones, are now carried in pockets and purses, an accessory item as indispensible as wallets and keys. Smartphones, served by portable operating systems and software “Apps”, have taken over substantial functionality from laptop computers, which had mobilized desk-bound computers in an earlier generation of technology. The ultimate goal of the miniaturization process is to produce a multi-functional device, capable of both voice and data communication, which is as wearable as a watch and as user-friendly as the input device called a mouse.

While technological advances have greatly reduced the size of electronic displays, manual data entry still carries demands for finger-sized layouts. Phone keypads reduce the number of keys over the standard QWERTY keyboard, but they inconvenience the user by requiring multiple keystrokes to enter text. Touch screen technology has moved the keyboard onto the display itself, but accuracy with finger control still requires a certain amount of territorial separation. The mechanical keys may be eliminated, but the display area, not the size, is the beneficiary of the displaced space. One method of reducing the input area on the display is to use a stylus to pinpoint the touch zone. Unfortunately, small implements tend to get lost and are almost never at hand when needed. Reducing the keyboard to the size of a wristwatch or other device small to the hand, without taxing the user with keystroke repetition or auxiliary equipment, requires an innovative approach.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,818 to Olsen teaches placing mechanical keys on the face of a watch. Such positioning, however, leaves little room for displaying information. Chen, in U.S. Patent Application 2006/0077073, places the mechanical keys around the periphery of the watch casing and on shoulders adjacent to the watch face. This arrangement removes the competition for display space. In both instances, however, the minimal separation distance required for accurate finger placement essentially limits the functionality to a phone keypad. Moreover, pushing buttons with one finger is a slow data entry mode, and, with the device bound to one wrist, there is likely to be some awkwardness in the positioning of the hands, not to mention fatigue over an extended session.

Operating a QWERTY keyboard or other data input method on a small scale requires a multi-functional key with selection capability. Such a multi-functional key would eliminate the one-to-one correspondence of keys and functions and result in a reduced keyboard layout. Hirshberg, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,345, discloses a solution by making sliding finger contact in one of several detectable directions on a two-dimensional surface. The problem with a two-dimensional surface, however, is accommodating finger-sized touch zones with sufficient boundary space to enable discrimination of events. This space requirement makes it impossible to shrink the layout to a size comparable to that of a watch face.

There is an unfilled need for QWERTY keyboard and other input functionality on the scale of a wristwatch. Such a device could be the next multi-functional, internet-linked, App-enabled, Smartphone. Such functionality might require, for example, a multiplicity of selection options from a relatively few, narrowly-fenced, touch zones around a watch face periphery. It might also require, to match the convenience and speed of legacy keyboards, a fluidity of keystroke entry from hand positions comfortably arranged for long-term tasking. The instant invention provides novel solutions in both apparatus and method to meet this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a data entry device for portable devices suitable for wrist deployment or that can be worn or carried or handheld, for example, devices such as smart devices built into belt buckles, pocket watches, hair berets, sneakers, TV remote controls, handheld game controllers, water bottle caps, table coasters and the like. It is a further object to enter data on said device by means of touch interaction with one or more fingers. It is a further object to locate controls on the side surfaces of the device in order to optimize the display of information on the facing surface of the device. It is a further object to provide a means for sufficiently precisely locating the focal point or sensitive area for detecting input on a surface of the device, such as a touch zone. It is a further object to provide multiple selections for functionality at each touch control. It is a further object to provide said multiple selections by sensing the movement of a pressure point or finger movement in a preferred direction within the zone. It is a further object to facilitate bounding where necessary for the pressure point or finger movements on or across a touch zone. It is a further object to provide multiple touch surfaces on an object housing in a plurality of three-dimensional orientations to facilitate manipulation by opposing fingers and thumbs. It is a further object to facilitate both one-handed and two-handed operation. It is a further object to provide means and method for comfortably holding and manipulating the device. It is a further object to utilize multiple fingers, in a simultaneous or sequential touch mode, to make the data entry a more fluid process. It is a further object to expand the library of functionalities by sequencing touches.

These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a data entry device for wrist deployment or deployments previously described, comprising, in a first part, a housing having a top surface and four side surfaces forming a periphery there around; in a second part, a digital display on the top surface; in a third part, a wrist-band, holding straps, or handles connected to two opposing side surfaces, the wrist band, holding straps, or handles functioning to removably attach the housing to a person's wrist; in a fourth part, at least one panel on each of the two remaining, unbanded, side surfaces; in a fifth part, at least two bumps, or one or more ridges, indentations, or angles to the touch surfaces, or perceivable distance separations or other divisions (hereafter referred to as bumps) on each of at least one panel on each side, each bump configured to receive the touch of a finger-tip or to provide a tactile cue to direct a fingertip to a sensor, each bump enabled or each bump and surrounding panel or each small panel with sensor technology at least in a zone surrounding or adjacent to said bump enabled to respond to finger-tip pressure toward one of at least two preferred directions in the plane of the panel; and, in a sixth part, a programmable processor coupled with memory resident in the housing, the processor in signal communication with the sensor technology and the digital display and programmed to associate each bump with a stored menu and each preferred direction with a functionality. With the data entry device configured with these parts, and with the thumb and index fingers of each hand hovering over the unbanded side surfaces, a functionality can be selected by touching at least one of the bumps with one of the hovering fingers or in the alternative the finger guided to the exact or approximate appropriate area of the touch surface by the above methods (for example, ridges etc. listed above) to cause a menu to be displayed by the integrated processor on the digital display and thereafter urging the touching finger toward one of the preferred directions as indicated by the menu.

In a preferred embodiment, the data entry device comprises two panels stacked upper and lower on each of the two unbanded side surfaces, the upper and lower panels inclined to each other and to the display, each upper panel and one of the lower panels each having three zones defined by bumps thereon enabled with sensor technology. The nine bump locations are mimicked in a grid area of the digital display, wherein each cell of the grid would display alphabet characters corresponding to available selections from the corresponding bump. The alphabet characters are distributed among the cells in rough correspondence to a QWERTY keyboard layout. Another area of the display shows the entries made by the selections of individual characters resulting from directional pressure manipulation at an active bump before touch is released there from.

In an alternate embodiment, a method of entering data comprises, in a first step, providing the data entry device as described above to the wrist of a person to be omnipresent; in a second step, removing the data entry device from the wrist; in a third step, holding the data entry device in a reading position with at least one of the middle, ring or little fingers of each hand gripping the wrist-band from both sides, whereby the index fingers and thumbs can be deployed to hover over the at least one panel; in a fourth step, touching at least one bump with a thumb or index finger to cause a menu of functionality choices to appear on the display; in a fifth step, selecting one of the choices by urging the touching finger or thumb in one of the preferred directions indicated by the menu; and, in a last step, entering the selection by releasing the touch.

In a particular alternate embodiment, the providing step is enhanced with a timer to discriminate simultaneity with respect to two-finger touches. With the index finger and thumb deployed in a clamp-like manner for closing upon two bumps on opposite sides of the device, the range of key-able functionality can be greatly expanded by simultaneous or sequential dual touches. The expansion would enable use of the device for sophisticated applications, such as for Apps, added texting symbols and functions, internet browsing, or picture-taking.

Screens can be nested so that sequential screens shown using the two-finger input or any other input can provide further screens with related choices that cannot be found on the limited surface available on one screen: For example, a second screen accessible from the typing keyboard screen with all numbers, followed by a third screen accessible from the second with common mathematical symbols, followed by a fourth screen accessible from the third with uncommon mathematical symbols, etc.

Other exemplary schemes involved using any other sensor system that can approximate a fingers presence and direction of motion without touch, such as laser, radar, light or other proximity sensors can be used. This applies to both one-finger and two-finger touch input motions.

According to a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a data entry device comprised of any smart device that is small to the hand, worn on the body, held, carried, or of necessity small such as smart devices built into belt buckles, pocket watches, hair berets, sneakers, TV remote controls, handheld game controllers, water bottle caps, table coasters, etc., etc.) Such device having a strap, handle, shape or mounting such that it can be fixed in place or can be gripped using any of the lower three fingers of the hand, thereby freeing the index fingers and thumbs of one or each hand. And each touch surface being divided or separated or in construction or to the sense of touch by or one or more ridges, indentations, protrusions, chamfers, angles to the touch surfaces, perceivable distance separations, or other divisions. Imprecise starting points within a sensor area (a portion of the touch plane) may be interpreted by intelligent software using direction of movement. The user can view a grouping of letters on the view screen and touch the adjacent or appropriate sensored plane in the approximate area of that letter grouping, and the software will determine which letter grouping is appropriate because it is nearest to the finger, and then software can determine which particular letter in the grouping is the chosen letter from the direction that the finger is removed. An accomplished user can approximate the distances that fingers reach along all touch surfaces, and not need the keyboard screen or a physical marker on the touch surface because he is habituated to the distances and may prefer using the entire touch screen for typing results and no keyboard. This device can provide a tactile queue to allow the user to position fingers on each of the chamfered and horizontal touch surfaces without providing a dimple or bump. The edges of the chamfered and horizontal touch surfaces provide this queue.

As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to a further embodiment, the chamfered, sensored touch surfaces can be textured to provide tactile queues as to where to begin a finger movement within a touch surface. Also within each touch surface, a very small ridge (comfortable to the finger) can provide tactile queues as to where to begin a finger movement on a touch surface. Also within each touch surface, a very small depression (comfortable to the finger) can provide tactile queues as to where to begin a finger movement on a touch surface. Also the touch surface can be divided by any physical marker so fingers can feel and the user be made aware of the proper area to start a finger motion such as a small raised ridge or a small trough that divides the touch surface and the finger can feel where each division of the touch sensored surface is bounded. Also each touch surface can be perfectly flat and the user can view the keyboard on the screen, and by observing the groupings of the letters the user can determine where to begin each touching and sliding motion to type each result. An accomplished user may learn the distances to extend each finger and may not need the cues from visual screen to approximate the distances, and thereby free the screen from the keyboard because the arrangement of the letters is memorized, and thereby enabling the accomplished user to use the full screen for the resulting text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of definition, the term “functionality”, as used herein, may be taken to mean either an item chosen for data entry or a scripted action programmed to be performed by the system. The term “selection”, as used herein, will be taken to mean the indication of a menu choice through the manipulation of contact in a zone of touch sensitivity. The term “enter”, as used herein, will be taken to mean an order to execute the selection, either by entry into a data field or by initiating an action, through the withdrawal of intimate contact from the zone.

Referring toFIG. 1, a data entry device1for wrist deployment comprises a housing2. The housing2has a top surface3and four side surfaces4forming a periphery around the top surface3. A wrist band21is connected to housing2at two opposite side surfaces4. The wrist band21provides a means to removably carry the data entry device1on a persons' wrist, and thus makes the device omnipresent in much the same manner as a wrist watch. The remaining two side surfaces4are unbanded side surfaces which flank the top surface3. A digital display7occupies the top surface3. The wrist band21is an integral part of a means for holding the data entry device1. The unbanded side surfaces are an integral part of a means for entering data10into the data entry device1. The digital display7is an integral part of a means for handling information30in the data1entry device1.

In the preferred embodiment, the means for entering data10comprises at least one panel11on at least one of the side surfaces. In an alternate embodiment, the at least one panel11may be deployed on any three-dimensional object having side surfaces, such as a TV remote control103(FIG. 7), for example. Each panel11comprises at least two bumps12. The at least two bumps12reflect an operational symmetry of two hands, as will be discussed hereinafter. The panel11may be a flat surface, but preferably is a curvilinear surface. Such a surface provides additional spacing for the bumps12. The bumps12are embossments, as opposed to debossments, in the surface of the panel11. Each bump12is raised above the panel surface enough to provide tactile registration thereto, but not enough to prevent a touching finger from making contact with the surface, the bump essentially engulfed by the finger similar to a Braille feature. The bump12may have any geometrical form, but in a preferred embodiment, the bump is circular with a diameter of approximately 0.200 of an inch.

Additional panels11can be added to the side surfaces5. In order to differentiate the panels on any one side surface5, and any touch sensitivity zones assigned thereto, added panels11should be obtusely inclined away from each other. One way to do this is to chamfer the edge between the side surfaces and the top surface to create chamfer surfaces flanking the top surface. In a preferred embodiment, the panels11comprise two upper panels6positioned on the chamfer surfaces and one lower panel13on one of the sides5. Each of the three panels11so defined are provided with three bumps12each, bringing the total to nine bumps. The configuration of nine bumps12reflects correspondence with a QWERTY keyboard, as will be discussed hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiment, the means for entering data10cooperates with the digital display7and the means for handing information30. In an alternate embodiment, the means for entering data10may be linked to a remote display through wireless technology, such as Bluetooth®, for example. Referring toFIG. 8, the means for handling information30is comprised of a programmable processor31located in the housing2. The programmable processor31is coupled with memory32. The programmable processor31is in signal communication with the digital display7. The processor is also in signal communication with sensor technology34located at the site of each bump12. In the preferred embodiment, a timer33, in signal communication with the processor31, is included in the housing configuration. The sensor technology34is sensitive to the application of finger pressure in and around the bump site. The zone of sensitivity can be divided into sectors35which define preferred directions14and the boundaries thereof. In the preferred embodiment, there are four sectors35arrayed orthogonally. The four sectors35are arbitrarily named, for purposes of discussion herein, North, South, East and West. When the bump12is initially touched, a locus point is registered by the sensor technology34. When the finger is urged in a North, South, East or West direction, the sensor technology34detects a directional path leading from the locus toward one or another of the “compass” directions. Each bump12, because of its raised configuration, provides tactile feedback for sliding the finger in any direction. With awareness provided by the tactile feedback, the sliding movements in the preferred directions14are deliberate and measured in a way to limit slippage into a neighboring sector35. The planes of adjacent panels11, intersecting at the chamfer angle, also prevent inadvertent sector contact. Thus, the novel configuration of the bump12, not to mention the angular separation of the panels, improves upon prior art touch zones which are deficient the means to fence-in directional movements.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the digital display7, in a home state prior to a touch event, displays an entry part17and a grid part18. The grid part18displays a menu15of choices arranged in cells19. The cells19are positioned to correspond with the positions of the bumps12. For example, the top left cell19corresponds to the bump12located on the top panel11in the left position. In the preferred embodiment, there are 9 cells19in three rows corresponding to the three panels11. The 26 letters of the alphabet can be distributed among the cells and rows to roughly correspond to the standard QWERTY keyboard. Since most keyboard users are familiar with this layout, locating a particular alpha character of interest is facilitated in this way. For the purpose of discussion herein, the top left bump will be referred to as number 1, and the set of bumps will correspond by number labels 1-9 with the grid positions in left to right and top to bottom order. When the number 1 bump12, for example, is touched, a sub-menu16will appear in the grid10part18, as shown inFIG. 4. The sub-menu16will show the characters in the corresponding cell in a spatial relationship indicating the preferred directions14. The preferred directions14may also be indicated by arrows pointing outward from a center corresponding to the locus of the touch event. In the preferred embodiment, there are up to four preferred directions14corresponding to North, South, East and West. When the number 1 bump is touched, for example, the letter characters “q”, “w”, “e” and “r” are displayed in the West, East, North and South directions, respectively. When the touch is urged toward the North direction, the letter “e” is changed in response to confirm its selection. The response can be a change in color, a bolding, or simply an enlargement of the character, as shown inFIG. 4. Alternatively, the letter “e” in the original screen will indicate by bolding, flashing, enlarging, changing color, or other indicating means without the sub-menu16appearing, as shown inFIG. 6. When the touch is withdrawn from the number 1 dimple, the selected character is entered in the entry part17of the display. A cursor36indicates the position for entry of the selected character.

Referring toFIG. 2, the means for holding involves both hands of the user. The data entry device1is removed from the wrist and oriented for viewing the digital display7, typically with the wrist band21extending left and right. The wrist band21is held in both hands by holding fingers23. By definition, the holding fingers23are the middle, ring and little fingers of the hand. The wrist band21may be of a clasp type wherein the band separates into two parts, or may be of a bracelet type. Either type configures a closed or open loop into which the holding fingers, in opposite postures, can be curled to support the data entry device1in a readable position. A hand hold22configured in this manner leaves working fingers24available to initiate touches on the bumps12. By definition, the working fingers24are the thumb and index finger of each hand. The working fingers24are placed by the grip of the holding fingers23in a position to hover over the panels11. The bi-lateral pairs of working fingers24can also operate in cooperative gestures, like a clamp or “pincher”, to touch two, or even more, bumps in an event. The hand hold22is a natural position for the hands, with the wrists relaxed, and the working fingers24suspended for easy articulation. This novel posture for the hands not only makes up to four fingers available for the efficient and dexterous manipulation of the data entry device1, the posture can be maintained without fatigue or discomfort for long periods during extended data entry sessions.

The working fingers24preferably operate either singly or doubly. While other operational modes are possible, with up to four fingers at a time in a single event, the one or two touch mode offers an ample multiplicity of functionality with a minimum of operational complexity. Two touches at a time can be either simultaneous or sequential, as determinable by the timer33and a programmed preferred delay37(not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the preferred delay37is 1-2 seconds, and this can be adjustable for speed and sensitivity purposes. In the preferred embodiment, the two adjacent panels11are oriented to the thumb side where joint articulation is superior. Users accustomed to texting will find thumb entry to be more natural, so the preponderance of bumps is allocated to thumb entry. A typical two-touch maneuver might be with the index finger of one hand touching bump numbers 1-3 and the corresponding thumb, in a pincher action, ranging over numbers 4-9: The number of pincher touches is 18 for nine bumps. The number of permutations of two-finger touches taken in sequence is 72. The number of both simultaneous and sequential touches possible is 108. When combined with the 9 single touches offering up to 36 selections, a large library of functionalities can be accessed with either one or two touches.

FIG. 11shows another embodiment according to the invention. Device121includes a housing120. The housing120has top surface122and a side surface123. The side surface123is divided into three regions124,125, and126. These regions are each equipped with a pressure and motion sensor for detecting a finger pressure and a direction of sliding motion, as discussed with respect to the embodiments above. This embodiment differs from the embodiments described above because the regions equipped with sensors do not include a bump or dimple to provide as tactile queue for the user. Instead, the regions are delineated from one another by grooves127and128. Not shown inFIG. 11, regions separated by grooves and equipped with touch and motion sensors can also be provided on the side of the device opposite to side123.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown inFIG. 11, the grooves127and128delineating surfaces124,125, and126are replaced by raised ridges. These ridges provide the user with a tactile queue to locate the proper locations for contacting the device. According to other aspect of the invention the surfaces124,125,126could be delineated by one another by being set at an angle with respect to one another such that the user's finger can sense the angled orientation between adjacent surfaces. Any sensor or sensors that can determine contact and the direction of sliding contact can be used. Any strap, handle, affixing device, housing shape, or other means that provides stability to the device and enables free movement of the thumbs and index fingers can be used. Likewise any shape of the device sized to provide touching surfaces for the thumb and index finger of each hand can be used.

While many schemes for assigning functionalities to touch events are possible, one exemplary scheme40will be discussed here below, referring toFIG. 10. Exemplary scheme40is comprised of decision points and paths leading from decision resolution by the processor31, enabled by sensory input from sensor technology34and stored data in memory32. Each path begins with a touch event and ends with an entry event. Exemplary scheme40is comprised of a data entry path41, a mode entry path42and a function entry path43. Data entry path41begins with a single bump touch and leads to the data entry scenario described above, through the display of the sub-menu16, a pressure manipulation in a preferred direction14, and a command to enter with the release of the touch. For data entry path41, the release must occur from a shifted pressure point. If pressure is returned to the locus, the selection is thereby nullified. Mode path42begins with a two-bump touch and leads to the decision that the touch is simultaneous. Typically, this type of touch will be with a pincher manipulation, and the path thereafter proceeds to an analysis of which of 18 pairs is indicated. A data entry mode is assigned to each pair, each mode exhibiting a different menu15in the grid part18of the digital display7. Data entry modes may be, but are not necessarily limited to upper case alpha, lower case alpha, numerals, and one or more symbol or character sets. After display of the particular menu1, mode path42proceeds along data entry path41by returning to a single touch entry. Function path43begins with a two-bump touch and leads to the decision that the touch is sequential. Function path43then proceeds to an analysis of which of 36 pairs is indicated and which of the indicated pair is first in sequence, the field involving 72 permutations in all. A different menu15is assigned to each pair of the function path43. A typical function menu is shown inFIG. 5, which illustrates, by example, functions related to email processing. In cells1-6, the functionalities are actions which are triggered by touching and releasing the corresponding bump. The contact will cause recognition of the selection by some visual means, as discussed above, and as shown in cell1. In cells7-9, however, additional data entry is indicated. Touching one of those cells will loop into the data entry path41, as indicated by the dotted-line arrow inFIG. 10.

With function entry path43, a single touch to a bump12is more efficient than manipulating directionally though a sub-menu16. In the case of data entry, however, because of the multiplicity of selections, it is more efficient to operate through the sub-menus16of the data entry path41rather than toggling through an extended library of menus15in the mode entry path42. In like manner, simultaneous touching is quicker than sequential touching and, therefore, data entry is facilitated by implementing the simultaneous protocol for the mode entry path42. Each of the beneficial features mentioned herein, including the bumps12, the particular configuration of the panels11, the hand hold22, the organization of the cells19into a QWERTY layout, the working fingers24and the configuration of the different paths of the exemplary scheme40, add to a fluidity of data entry processing unknown and as yet under-achieved in the art of miniature input devices.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of entering data50by means of wrist deployment, as shown inFIG. 9. The method of entering data50comprises the steps of:51, providing the data entry device1to the wrist of a person for omnipresent use;52, removing the data entry device1from the wrist;53, holding the data entry device in a readable position with at least one of the holding fingers23gripping the wrist band21from both sides, whereby the working fingers24are deployed to hover over the at least one panel11;54, touching at least one bump12with a working finger24to cause a menu1, or a sub-menu16, of functionality choices to appear on the display7;55, selecting one of the choices by urging the operative working finger24in one of the preferred directions14indicated by the sub-menu16; and56, entering the selection by releasing the touch.

In a particular alternate embodiment, the touching step53comprises simultaneous or sequential touches by the working fingers24. A simultaneous touch toggles between data entry modes including lower case alpha, upper case alpha, number and character. The sequential touch results in a functional menu15according to both the position and sequence of the touches. A functionality is thereafter selected and entered through another touch.

In another alternate embodiment, the data entry device1may be a hosted data entry10device100, wherein an electronic object101otherwise having a primary use is enabled with the technology of the present invention for the secondary use of data entry. The electronic object101shown inFIG. 7is a TV remote control103, as an example. The TV remote control103has been provided with the means for entering data10and the means for handling information30, as described above. A wireless means102is used to communicate with a TV in range, which, in this case, serves as the digital display7(not shown inFIG. 7). The means for holding20utilizes the hand hold22, which is particularly adaptable to such a bar-like as the TV remote control103. The electronic object101may include such other devices as a cell phone, a PDA, a game controller, or even a flash drive.

In another embodiment, the gripping mechanism is not a watchband, but a retractable band or bands, for example, elastic or hinged, such that they can be extended out from the smart device when typing is required. This would enable a smaller wearable smart device to be carried in a pocket, worn on a belt buckle, clipped to long hair, pinned to a garment, applied to the skin, or worn on a sneaker; and when use is desired, the gripping mechanism can be extended from the small device for gripping purposes and the small device can be typed on.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction, to the arrangements of the components and to the method of using set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, bumps can be added to the fourth panel for a further expansion of functionalities. For another example, if the watch remains on the wrist, the opposing camfered surfaces enable one-handed-two-finger data entry if the processor is reprogrammed to accept three directions of finger motion two directions parallel to the surface of the wrist and one direction perpendicular to the surface of the wrist.