Abstract: An in-car communication and entertainment system including an international keyboard having a key (e.g., an ABC key) located on a display/screen (e.g., touch screen) enabling a user to toggle through multiple pages of characters, for example accented or special characters associated with a particular language. The key also includes jewels/indicators representing the amount of pages of characters associated with a particular keyboard wherein each jewel or indicator is lit or highlighted to indicate the specific page. Additionally, another key (e.g., a Globe key) enables the user to change the typing language without changing the system language. In this manner, the international keyboard enables users to interface and communicate with the system in a number of different languages.

Abstract: A machine interface system for use in a motor vehicle includes a bezel having a display opening and at least one active surface adjacent the display opening. At least one sensor assembly is associated with the active surface and generates a sensor signal corresponding to a location on the active surface touched by a vehicle occupant. A reconfigurable display is disposed within the display opening and is configured to display, adjacent to the active surface, at least one image associated with a vehicle function. Coupled to the sensor assembly is a controller that is configured to generate the image and to receive the sensor signal. The controller responds to the sensor signal according to the vehicle function associated with the image when the corresponding active surface is touched by the occupant.