Abstract: This invention is directed to a portable information apparatus, which includes a main display, a sub-display provided independently of the main display, detection means for detecting information that the user must be informed of, and display control means for displaying a message indicating the information that the user must be informed of on the sub-display when the detection means detects this information.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus comprises a unit for determining an authority level of a user who has demanded user switching, a unit for displaying on a display of the apparatus a list of users who have authority levels not higher than the determined authority level, and a unit for switching an operation environment of an apparatus to the operation environment corresponding to a user selected from the list displayed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method providing a main display for displaying a first operation screen used to perform a first operation and a sub-display separate from the main display for displaying a second operation screen used to perform a second operation. The sub-display is integral with a touch pad pointing device. A processor of the information processing apparatus is programmed to provide notification when the second operation screen is opened or changed. The notification may be selectively provided on the main display such that a user performing touch operation on the sub-display while viewing the main display is notified that the second operation screen has been opened or changed. The notification may be visual, audible or tactile. The second operation may be executed in parallel with the first operation or independently of the first operation. The first operation screen and the second operation screen may be simultaneously displayed.

Abstract: An information processing device has an openable display case provided on a main body of the information processing apparatus, a driver which opens or closes the display case on the main body, and a unit for remotely controlling driving mechanism.

Abstract: A portable information equipment of this invention has a jog switch for generating different events in correspondence with flip directions and times, and means for executing a process corresponding to a type of event generated by the jog switch.

Abstract: When a touch pad pointing device is tapped, the tapped position coordinate is detected and a predetermined function is performed based on the tapped coordinate. One of functions of a computer and a pointing function is allocated to a zone of the touch pad. When a zone of the touch pad is tapped, a notification based on the function allocated to the tapped zone is performed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a button to which a to-be-executed program can be assigned. The apparatus further includes a unit which executes the program in response to an operation of the button, a unit which executes a button function setting process base on a request for setting of the button function for executing the program, and a unit which controls the execution of the button function setting process, depending upon a user authority level of the user who has made the request for the setting of the button function.

Abstract: The information processing apparatus includes: information processing unit configured to process various information; an interface capable of supplying electrical power to and communicating a signal with an electronic device external to the apparatus through a single connector; a power supply unit capable of supplying electrical power to the electronic device through the interface; electronic device detection unit configured to detect connection of the electronic device to the apparatus; external power supply detection unit configured to detect connection of an external power supply to the apparatus; and power supply control unit, when the connection of the electronic device and the external power supply to the apparatus are detected, configured to keep supplying electrical power to the electronic device even after deactivation of the apparatus, in the event an instruction to turn off a power supply of the apparatus or deactivate the apparatus is issued.

Abstract: If an operating knob of a mode control switch is slide in one direction, disk medium reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of data recorded in an optical disk medium set to a CD/DVD drive is executed. If the operating knob is slid in another direction, MP3 data reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of digital audio data stored in a hard disk is executed in accordance with a play list.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is capable of executing functions associated with a plurality of shortcut keys each comprising a combination of an auxiliary key and another key. The apparatus includes a key-input device including a plurality of keys, a unit that detects depression of an auxiliary key of the key-input device, and a unit that displays, on a display screen, a list of shortcut keys including the auxiliary key detected.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a main display unit which displays a main operation screen, a sub-display unit which displays a sub-operation screen, and a unit for displaying a moving-image playback picture on the sub-display unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a first display device, a second display device, and a display controller which displays, on the second display device, a first operation window regarding information displayed on the first display device.

Abstract: A display device comprises a display unit which displays an image and can be remotely controlled by a remote controller, and a control unit which magnifies a predetermined information included in the image displayed by the display unit, according to a distance between the remote controller and the control unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a first input device capable of inputting character information, a second input device capable of inputting coordinates, and a handwritten character recognizing unit which recognizes character information based on the coordinates input by the second input device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a first display device which displays a pointer, a second display device which displays a virtual screen including a screen of the first display device, and a display controller which moves the pointer to a pointed position in the virtual screen of the second display device.

Abstract: If an operating knob of a mode control switch is slide in one direction, disk medium reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of data recorded in an optical disk medium set to a CD/DVD drive is executed. If the operating knob is slid in another direction, MP3 data reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of digital audio data stored in a hard disk is executed in accordance with a play list.

Abstract: If an operating knob of a mode control switch is slide in one direction, disk medium reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of data recorded in an optical disk medium set to a CD/DVD drive is executed. If the operating knob is slid in another direction, MP3 data reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of digital audio data stored in a hard disk is executed in accordance with a play list.

Abstract: If an operating knob of a mode control switch is slide in one direction, disk medium reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of data recorded in an optical disk medium set to a CD/DVD drive is executed. If the operating knob is slid in another direction, MP3 data reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of digital audio data stored in a hard disk is executed in accordance with a play list.

Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a main body having a keyboard, a display unit supported by the main body, and a sub display unit provided in the main body. The display unit can rotate between a closed position, in which the display unit covers the keyboard, and an opened position, in which the display unit exposes the keyboard. The sub display unit has a display panel which displays information, and the inclination angle of the sub display unit with the main body can be adjusted through an adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: An information processing device has an openable display case provided on a main body of the information processing apparatus, a driver which opens or closes the display case on the main body, and a unit for remotely controlling driving mechanism.