Abstract: An apparatus (100) is described for enabling the creation of a message by placing tangible objects (120) on a Scrabble® like detection grid. Each of the objects represents one or more symbols, such as a letter. The user creates the message by writing words on the grid. The apparatus (100) composes the message based on the detected identifiers of the objects (120) and their position of the grid. The user may address and send the message by placing a further tangible object (130) representing a message destination on the grid.

Abstract: A system for sensing a physical property allocated to scanning positions (P1-P5, P11-P44, Pijk) comprises sensors (A1-A5, B) adapted to sense the physical property within sensing regions (AR1-AR5, BR1-BR2, C1-C3, D1-D3, E1-E3, F1-F4, G1-G3, H1-H4), wherein the sensing regions (AR1-AR5, BR1-BR2, C1-C3, D1-D3, E1-E3, F1-F4, G1-G3, H1-H4) are arranged such that each of them sweeps at least one scanning position (P1-P5, P11-P44, Pijk) and sensing regions (AR1-AR5, BR1-BR2, C1-C3, D1-D3, E1-E3, F1-F4, G1-G3, H1-H4) are superposed on one another at least at one scanning position (P1-P5, P11-P44, Pijk), so that each scanning position is swept by a unique pattern of sensing regions (AR1-AR5, BR1-BR2, C1-C3, D1-D3, E1-E3, F1-F4, G1-G3, H1-H4), wherein the following condition is fulfilled: log2(n)?i<x·n1/x with i . . . number of sensing regions n . . . number of scanning positions x . . . number of spatial dimensions in which the arrangement of scanning positions extend.