Abstract: An electronic device such as a smart phone or personal computer, adapted to both unlock and to execute at least one step of a standard operation such as placing a telephone call, responsive to the user executing only one input command The input command may comprise moving a slider on a touch screen, entering a predetermined combination of alphanumeric characters, and the like. The input command may also comprise hand drawing a symbol on the screen, whereupon the electronic device will execute a matching procedure similar to character recognition to authenticate the symbol. Authentication may then unlock the device and execute the at least one step of the standard operation.