Patent ID: 6967642

Claim:
In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user interface selection device for inputting control commands into the computing system, the user interface selection device comprising: a tactile touchpad having a tactile pattern providing orientation feedback to a user selecting a specific user request, the touchpad angularly divided by a plurality of petals, each petal being tactilely distinguished from an adjacent petal and forming a single section; a central portion separating the center of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the central portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section; an outer portion separating an outer boundary of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the outer portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section; and a plurality of input sensing devices, each section having at least one input sensing device detecting all or a portion of an input stroke defining a control command and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the control command to the computing system, wherein the input stroke comprises a dial stroke beginning on a petal, continuing to at least one other petal, and terminating on the other petal, the dial stroke requesting rotation of a menu item control command so that the sections of the touchpad are generated updated control commands defined by the menu item control command.