Abstract: A hand-held thumb-actuated ergonomic keyboard input device for use with a coupled electronic system such as a selector on a portable telephone. The device includes a housing which incorporates a hand-grippable portion that permits the device to be held in one hand with the thumb free to move at least temporarily to a predetermined key-actuation position. In other words, the grippable portion allows the device to be securely held with the fingers and with the thumb-free. A keyboard cluster is provided on the device in a concavity in the housing. The keyboard is located at the predetermined thumb-accessible key-actuation position and includes a key arrangement which allows the thumb to selectively actuate individual keys. Only slight gestural movements of the thumb are required to actuate individual keys on the keyboard. The gestural movements include mixed lateral and endo translation of the thumb within the keyboard concavity.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard input device for use with a coupled electronic system, such as a computer. The device includes a keyboard which is organized with an array of actuation keys that are disposed generally to complement the splayed underside architecture of a user's hand. A two-handed implementation is disclosed wherein each array includes, for each finger in a hand, an associable cluster of input keys which are placed in such a manner that they enable key actuation via only slight, gestural, relatively closing motion of a portion of a confronting finger, and for the thumb in each hand, an associable cluster of keys disposed generally over three mutually intersecting, and somewhat orthogonal, surfaces that enable thumb/key actuation via mixed lateral, and slight endo, translation of the thumb generally within a cone of motion whose apex resides adjacent the base of the thumb.