Abstract: A portable information handling system includes a top cover, a base, and an electronic latch. The top cover is connected to the base. The top cover has a gesture sensitive surface configured to receive a trace. The electronic latch is in communication with the gesture sensitive surface, and is configured to latch the top cover and the base together. The electronic latch is further configured to unlatch the top cover from the base in response to receiving a signal representing that the trace received on the gesture sensitive surface is proper.

Abstract: A dynamic touch interface in which users are able to flick or scroll within the dynamic touch interface such as a dock or carousel and view the contents of their applications and thus provides a touch friendly environment to a personal computer type operating system (i.e., a keyboard/mouse input type operating system). More specifically, the touch input environment implements dynamic icons such that the icons populate content which is viewed or experienced. For example, if a user launches a favorite band in a music application, the carousel is automatically populated with album art or a picture of the band. The next time the user visits the desktop, the music icon is replaced by an image of the band or artist. Also, in certain embodiments, the icon includes a brief description of the content (i.e., number of songs or albums in folder).

Abstract: A portable information handling system includes a top cover, a base, and an electronic latch. The top cover is connected to the base. The top cover has a gesture sensitive surface configured to receive a trace. The electronic latch is in communication with the gesture sensitive surface, and is configured to latch the top cover and the base together. The electronic latch is further configured to unlatch the top cover from the base in response to receiving a signal representing that the trace received on the gesture sensitive surface is proper.

Abstract: A keyboard for a computer receptive to a modular or other device, and a modular touch screen device having at least one changeable virtual key, are described. The keyboard includes a connector receptive to a corresponding connector of a device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device. The device communicates with a computer through the keyboard in a docking mode. The modular touch screen device extends the capability of a keyboard to which it is connected in a docking mode by providing changeable virtual keys. In a stand-alone mode, the modular touch screen device acts as a truncated wireless keyboard, or a dynamic remote control, for a computer.