Abstract: A display module which is independent from a keyboard and can be placed above the keys of any keyboard is provided. The display module includes indicating lights which are positioned to be above each key. A separate processor module receives MIDI signals on a MIDI input board. These signals can be sent along a MIDI cable connected to the processor module, and can originate from either a keyboard, a computer, or any other MIDI compatible device. The processor ignores all but certain of the MIDI signals, keeping the operation simple. In particular, the processor responds to note on and note off signals to turn on the indicating light for a corresponding key.

Abstract: A workstation that employs methods to construct computer programs through use of visual graphical representations. Computer programs are illustrated as visual road maps of the intended sequence of actions. Each operational entity in a program graph on the screen is represented as an elemental "atomic" unit, called a "Softron". The Softron is a multidimensional, graphical "atom" of programming information which has four modes of operation, termed "layers". The four layers are Normal, where the basic functionally of the application resides; Initialization/Reset, responsible both for the startup values of important variables and for their values at strategic checkpoints; Error, which handles conditions outside design limits; and Input/Output, which performs human input/output and other I/O tasks. Softrons reside in very general form in the workstation's library, and are optimized by the process of specialization. Softrons may be grouped to form new Softrons by a process called Logical Zoom (TM).