Abstract: A character recognition system includes, but is not limited to, a touchpad including a touch sensing surface for generating a first signal in response to a touch, the first signal corresponding to a location of the touch on the touch sensing surface, the touchpad further including a topographical feature associated with the touch sensing surface, the topographical feature configured to guide a touching member in a predetermined pattern along the touch sensing surface, the predetermined pattern corresponding with a predetermined set of characters. The system also includes an output device for communicatively coupling with a controlled device. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled with the touchpad and the output device. The processor receives the first signal, detects a pattern of the touch, generates a second signal corresponding to the pattern, and instructs the output device to output the second signal.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a worm (14) that engages with a control nut (9), such that the worm spirals through the nut into the cork (4) on insertion while the nut remains stationary, then the cork is extracted by an upward force on the nut. Mechanical advantage may feature on the insertion and/or extraction processes. Both the upward force and the torque on the worm from the nut are balanced by non-frictional forces from the cork, arising from frictional forces between the bottle (2) and the cork. Having independent insertion and extraction mechanisms enables these mechanisms to be controlled independently and enables the worm to be inserted to and extracted from different depths, depending on the length of the cork. This is not possible in previous nut corkscrews, which rely either on latches at the end of the insertion stroke or on friction between the cork and the worm.