Abstract: The device and method of the present invention includes an operating system that operates on an operating system level and one or more software applications that operate at an application level above the operating system level. Applications are configured to, when running at the application level, present at said display one or more display locations each associated with a user input event selection. Soft keys adjacent to said display are configured to be acted upon by a user to generate input signals to the operating system level independent of any one application configured to run at said application level. A control module is configured to receive said input signals from said one or more soft keys, map and transmit said input signals to a corresponding user selected display location of an application running at the application level to provide an application-related input.

Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more gaming machines, a display system, and a player input system. The display system includes a display screen that displays player interactive information, and the player input system includes a secondary input means. The secondary input means include soft keys that are mapped to particular coordinate-defined point or region (“hot spots”). In this regard, activation of a soft key replicates a mouse “click” or a touch screen “event.” The software implementation of the soft-keys is independent of the content being displayed, as long as the navigation buttons fall on the “hot-spots” associated with the soft-keys. In regard, when a soft-key is pressed it generates a mouse click event at its respective “hot-spot” coordinates. Soft-keys may be implemented with existing content since they require no code change. Accordingly, soft keys enable a content developer to develop content without requiring addition coding to implement the soft-keys themselves.