Patent ID: 7358956

Claim:
In a computer system including an auxiliary control and a display, a method comprising the steps of: detecting a first physical presence proximate to or contacting a first auxiliary control for a predefined period in which the first auxiliary control maintains an inactive state; and generating feedback responsive to said step of detecting, the feedback providing an indication of the functionality of the first auxiliary control, the functionality of the first auxiliary control and associated feedback being dependent upon which one of a first application program and a second application program is active, the generating includes displaying a first display widget on the display; detecting a second physical presence proximate to or contacting a second auxiliary control different from the first auxiliary control; generating second feedback responsive to said step of detecting the second physical presence, the second feedback indicating functionality associated with the second auxiliary control; the generating second feedback includes displaying second widget on the display responsive to the step of detecting the second physical presence; and discontinuing display of the first display widget responsive to detecting the second physical presence, wherein the first auxiliary control has a first function in the first application program and a second function, different from the first function, in the second application program.