Abstract: A diacritic chording system uses a single standard keyboard layout to generate diacritical characters used, for example, by Latin-based languages or languages based on a Roman character set, providing a universal keyboard. The key combination required to select a diacritic is consistent, independent of the language the user is typing. The diacritic chording system uses chording to obtain characters modified by diacritics, i.e., diacritical characters. The key combinations in the diacritic chord are chosen in such a way to aid memorization by positional association of the keys or by logic association of the keys within the diacritic chord. The use of a combination of positional association and logical association eliminates conflicts in mapping diacritics for different languages. The diacritic chording system also provides a screen overlay as a mnemonic to illustrate which diacritic chords provide the desired diacritical character.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for editing bidirectional text, including techniques for creating, selecting, inserting, and copying bidirectional text. The disclosed techniques include a method of inserting a character in bidirectional text. The method includes receiving the character, identifying a caret location at which a visual text insertion caret is positioned in displayed bidirectional text, the caret location separating a left character and a right character having opposite text directions, determining a logical insertion location at which the character is to be stored in a data store, wherein the logical insertion location is based on logical locations of the left and right characters in the data store, a text direction of the received character, and text directions of the left and right characters, and inserting the character into the data store at the logical insertion location.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to transmit arbitrarily large data units for transaction processing in a networked environment. A request is received to store a data unit of a size exceeding an allocated memory address space of a transaction gateway component of the networked environment. A predefined store function, provided by a repository interface component, is invoked to store the data unit to a data repository component of the networked environment and without segmenting the data unit. A repository handle of the stored data unit is identified. A predefined load function, provided by the repository interface component, is invoked to load a portion of the stored data unit, based on the identified repository handle, where the portion is smaller than the stored data unit.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to transmit arbitrarily large data units for transaction processing in a networked environment. A request is received to store a data unit of a size exceeding an allocated memory address space of a transaction gateway component of the networked environment. A predefined store function, provided by a repository interface component, is invoked to store the data unit to a data repository component of the networked environment and without segmenting the data unit. A repository handle of the stored data unit is identified. A predefined load function, provided by the repository interface component, is invoked to load a portion of the stored data unit, based on the identified repository handle, where the portion is smaller than the stored data unit.

Abstract: A communication device has an input keypad having physical input keys arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, a mode input mechanism to select a specific mode, and software or firmware responsive to mode selected through the mode input mechanism, comprising a specific mapping of input keys and process of input to output characters, depending on mode selected. In any specific mode, inputs by the physical input keys are mapped to output characters according to the specific mapping and process associated with the selected mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low power consumption haptic feedback are described. In one described system, a device comprises a manipulandum and a haptic effect generator in communication with the manipulandum. The actuator is operable to provide a first haptic profile associated with a first mechanical configuration and a second haptic profile associated with a second mechanical configuration. The device also comprises an actuator in communication with the haptic effect generator, which is operable to switch the haptic effect generator between the first haptic profile and the second haptic profile.

Abstract: A method of forming words utilizing a character actuator unit in which the character actuators are segregated into certain categories. First and second categories are employed and activated simultaneously to generate the beginning and ending of a word. First and second actuating categories may be combined with third and fourth categories of actuators to further form and modify words in any languages.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing font subsetting. One or more font subsetting parameters are received. The one or more font subsetting parameters indicate a granularity level for which font subsetting is performed for portions of a data container. The font subsetting parameters indicate a font subsetting granularity level other than an entire document associated with the data container. A first portion of the data container is determined in accordance with the font subsetting granularity level. A subset of font data for at least one font family is determined in accordance with what font data for the at least one font family is actually used by the first portion. The subset of font data is embedded in an output for a consumer.

Abstract: A printing device for printing labels comprising: a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means; wherein actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and maintaining activation of the character selection key for a predetermined time period selects the associated additional character.

Abstract: A system provides multilanguage text input in a handheld electronic device. The system includes one or more applications implemented in the handheld electronic device. The applications include a text input application requiring access to language data usable thereby. One or more language databases contain language data from a plurality of different languages usable by at least one of the applications including the text input application. An interface provides the applications with access to at least some of the different languages of the language data of the one or more language databases, in order that the applications including the text input application receive the different languages.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input device which allows input of a plurality of information so as to allow performance of a plurality of processes, an input information display device that displays input information that is the input one or more kinds of information, a delete menu storage device that stores a delete menu having a plurality of delete options, and a delete menu display device that displays only delete options corresponding to the information input by the input device from among the plurality of delete options, as the delete menu.

Abstract: A Braille writing instrument has a housing which has a first end and a second end, extending in a first direction. Six plungers are positioned near the first end, arranged in a first column of three plungers and a second column of three plungers. The first and second columns are adjacent to one another to define three rows of plungers with each row having two plungers. Each plunger is movable in the first direction between a stored position and a write position. The instrument further has six styluses which are positioned near the second end, and are arranged in a first column of three styluses and a second column of three styluses. The first and second columns of styluses are adjacent to one another to define three rows of styluses with each row having two styluses. Each stylus is movable in the first direction between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient Asian character text input into a reduced keypad machine such as a word processor, telephone, hand-held computer, or personal computer is provided. The system comprises a data entry keypad associated with a monitor, and a disambiguation process supporting multiple keycap depression timespan range definitions and interpretations to produce accurate messaging with a reduced keypad.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and program produce small print including character string information in a plurality of languages together with a logo. A language converting function converts an input character string into another language. A multi-language printing function converts the input character string into a specified number and types of languages. A layout function allows specifying one piece of information of the logo, specifying one record, specifying one type of character string information and printing the specified layout as the small print inclusive of the logo and character string.

Abstract: A printing device for printing labels comprises a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means. The first actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and a subsequent activation of the character selection key in a predetermined time frame selects the associated additional character.

Abstract: A printing device for printing labels comprises a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means. The first actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and a subsequent activation of the character selection key in a predetermined time frame selects the associated additional character.

Abstract: A novel hydraulic and latching (SSH) mechanism is invented to make the compact and low power consumption Braille cell based on the bending of the electroactive polymer actuators including PVDF polymer, IPMC and other electroactive polymers. The system comprises a rectangular cavity with four bending elements working at its two sides. The top of the cavity is sealed with a rubber membrane or a preformed membrane and the cavity is full of the water or other appropriate liquid to serve as the pressure transferring medium. The system transfers the bending of the electroactive polymer actuator into the linear motion of the Braille dot. A novel latching mechanism with two supporting blocks attaching to the bending elements and a thin rod attaching to the membrane is invented to provide over 30 grams supporting force which is the required for the Braille dot. The system provides the 0.7 mm displacement which is required for the travel of the Braille dot, large supporting force and quick response time (less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Arabic-Persian Alphabet input apparatus having ten or more basic keys on which basic figures extracted from analyzed forms of Arabic Alphabet are inscribed respectively. The basic key input signals are combined to easily and simply input the Arabic Alphabet to miniaturized and multi-functional electronic appliances such as cell phones whose buttons (keys) are limited in number. Further, the Arabic characters are inputted in the same manner as handwritting without particularly remembering the Persian.

Abstract: Ideographic keyboard and method in which an array of characters are printed on one side of a panel and optically readable data corresponding to the characters is recorded on the other side of the panel. A character selector is moved about the first side the panel for selective alignment with the characters, and an optical reader is linked to the character selector for movement about the recorded data in concert with the character selector. The data corresponding to a selected character is read, and a coded signal for the selected character is output in response to the data which is read. In one disclosed embodiment, the data is recorded in the form of bar coding, and the reader is a bar code reader. Precise alignment of the reader with the data for the selected character is assured by reading data from a region larger than the data field itself and extracting the character data in software.

Abstract: The present invention provides a keyboard that comprises a plurality of touch areas that represent symbols such as letters of the Latin script, Greek script, Hebrew script, Arabic script, or Cyrillic script. The touch areas are arranged in groups that include at least two of the touch areas. Each of the groups includes touch areas that are arranged in a distinctive shape that incorporates one or more of the symbols or parts of the symbols. A user enters a symbol by touching a part of the distinctive shape that is recognized with the symbol.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information input/output device for visually impaired users whereby the visually impaired users can easily obtain information for the operation and perform the operation without confusion. This device comprise a braille output unit having a plurality of projectable dotted portions and which enables output of a plurality of braille patterns by controlling the projection of the dotted portions, and a recognition means which recognizes that an operation concerning the braille patterns output by the braille output unit is input when the braille output unit is pushed within a predetermined period of time after the braille patterns are output by the braille output unit. When the user inputs an operation concerning the braille patterns, the user pushes the braille unit in which the braille patterns are output.

Abstract: A general Chinese phonetic keyboard setting apparatus enables the user to define a phonetic keyboard in a computer system. The user can define a key to correspond with a Chinese phonetic character (one key, one sound), or one key to correspond with several Chinese phonetic characters (one key, several sounds), or a Chinese phonetic character to correspond with several keys (one sound, several keys). Based on mutual acceptance and mutual rejection among finals, initials, medials and tones of the Chinese phonetic characters, whether or not the Chinese phonetic keyboard that was defined by the user is rational can be automatically verified to aid the user in defining a logical Chinese phonetic keyboard. Not only can the Chinese character input habit of different people can be satisfied, the Chinese character input speed can also be increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing elevations which can be detected in a tactile manner on a flat recording medium, with the following components: at least one stamp with several printing areas which are provided with one or several elevations; at least one printing plate with several recesses; a drive device to move the stamp in a recording direction along the recording medium; an adjusting device to adjust the stamp so as to bring a printing area to a printing position in which the elevations of the respective printing area are opposite of the recesses of the printing plate and a printing device to press the stamp against the printing plate in order to form one or several recesses on the interposed recording medium which correspond to elevations on the opposite side.

Abstract: A character input system (and method) is actualized using an “easy-to-operate” keyboard, which is downsized by reducing a number of keys and which has a good efficiency in performance and operation without increasing key-pressing numbers so much. The keyboard contains a first group of keys for inputting five vowel characters of Japanese in roman letters and a second group of keys for inputting consonant characters (and symbols). Herein, the first group of keys are separated in positions from the second group of keys on a panel of the keyboard. Two consonant characters are assigned to each of the keys of the second group in such a way that an unvoiced consonant character is input by a single key-pressing operation while a voiced consonant character is input by a double key-pressing operation.

Abstract: A host computer checks the frequency of type data such as a character code or a graphic pattern in print data. Type data with a high frequency is registered in a registered character management area in correspondence with a data ID and sent to a printer. The printer registers the received ID and data in a print data registration area. Thereafter, the host computer sends print data obtained upon replacement of the type data with the ID to the printer. The printer identifies an ID included in the print data, replaces the ID with the corresponding type data, and outputs the print data. With this processing, data with a high use frequency can be registered in the printer. Therefore, the data transfer amount from the host computer can be decreased, and the printing processing speed is increased. In addition, since the frequency is totalized, the memory in the printer can be effectively used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor having a function by which the user can obtain a character to be inputted by inputting a code corresponding to the character.The character information processor of the present invention includes: code input means through which the code is inputted; and a plurality of code-character conversion tables which are associated with different code systems and each of which contains relationships between codes and their corresponding characters under the code system.

Abstract: A character resource utilizing system for preparing print data from an extracted character resource and printing characters. The character resource utilizing system includes a memory for storing a first type of character resources and a second type of character resources, a print data processing unit for reading a desired character resource from the memory and preparing print data, a printing mechanism for printing the print data, and a processing unit for performing a charging process in accordance with the use of the second type of character resources read from the memory. Another character resource utilizing system comprises a character resource managing apparatus for storing at least a second type of character resources and transferring the second type of character resources in response to a character resource request, and a printing apparatus including the aforementioned memory, print data processing unit, printing mechanism and processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the direction code for encoding Chinese characters using English alphabet and the inputting method thereof. While encoding a Chinese character, constructing the English letters that exist in said character according to horizontal stroke " ", vertical stroke " ", left-slanting stroke " " and right-slanting stroke " " of Chinese characters, decomposing said character into a combination of certain actual postures among 161 ones of the letters according to order of strokes and rules of the order of strokes, said combination of postures being limited to 6 direction patterns, said letters being in 8 positive directions and 8 inverted directions presented by the letters respectively, said combination of the letters being the direction code of said Chinese character.

Abstract: A multilingual keyboard system (10) including a customized keyboard unit (12) is provided to operate in conjunction with a central processing unit (14) and a logic system (16) having unique software in order to facilitate multilingual typing from a single keyboard. The keyboard (12) includes customized keys (20) which are shaped to receive label panels (70) on one of several selectable templates (18). Each template (18) corresponds to a particular character set which the user desires to utilize as an alternate character set to that appearing on the key labels (52) on the keyboard (12). The keyboard (12) also includes a keyboard mode toggle key (36) for toggling between a standard mode of operation and the selected alternate mode. The logic system (16) includes software having keymapping schemes associated with each selectable alternate mode. Changing templates (18) permits usage of multiple alternate modes with the same equipment.

Abstract: A method for audio-video coding of Chinese characters wherein each audio-video code has two elements. The first element is an audio code element, and the second element is a video code element. The audio code element is always made of two English letters. The first English letter of the audio code element represents the consonant of the syllable of a Chinese character, and the second English letter represents the vowel of the syllable of the Chinese character. The video code element is made of two English letters in most situations. The first English letter of the video code element represent the first stroke of the Chinese character, and the second English letter represents the last stroke of the Chinese character. Only for 24 particular Chinese characters their respective video code element has one English letter, and for approximately 4% Chinese characters their respective video code element has an additional English letter "C" for indicating duplicated codes.

Abstract: A Bicameral Keyboard is provided for generating pictographic characters wherein twenty keys are sufficient to specify the roughly 3000 characters required for ordinary personal and business correspondence. The Bicameral Keyboard is compatible with pictographic expression and pedagogy and will permit direct access to word processors, translation machines, page editors, and printers at input rates more rapid than possible using the alphanumeric keyboard with western orthographic characters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus editing and creating multidirectional or multidimensional text includes an editor responsive to keystrokes representing text characters and editing commands for generating a string of codes defining a text and a parser responsive to operation of the editor for reading the codes of the string and parsing the codes into encoded units. Each encoded unit is made up of a group of codes defining a group of characters that are positioned in an expression as a unit and the system further generates a unit structure for each encoded unit. Each unit structure contains information defining a visual representation of the corresponding encoded unit. The parser is responsive to operation of the editor for reading the unit structures and corresponding codes of the string and generating a visually displayable representation of the text.

Abstract: A documentation system having a multilingual function, including a keyboard; a keyboard mode selecting device for setting at least a standard language mode and a multilingual mode wherein one keyboard mode (an optional language mode different from the standard keyboard language mode) can be selected from a plurality of selectable optional language keyboard modes; an optional language keyboard mode selecting device for selecting one optional language mode from said plurality of selectable optional language keyboard modes according to an operation of certain predetermined keys on the keyboard while in the multilingual mode; a selected keyboard mode storing device for storing an optional language mode selected by the optional language keyboard mode selecting device; and a selected keyboard mode reading device for automatically reading the optional language mode selected from the selected keyboard mode storing device when the multilingual mode is set by the keyboard mode selecting device so as to automatically co

Abstract: A Chinese character display apparatus includes a font memory for storing character fonts and tone symbol fonts. There is a first memory for storing strings of pairs of a character code and a tone code arranged in order of the character arrangement in a sentence that is to be displayed. A code selection device reads out the character codes and tone codes from the first memory in order of the character arrangement and distinguishes the character codes from the tone codes. There is a second memory having a first memory area for storing the character fonts respectively indicated by the character codes, in order of the character arrangement, and a second memory area for storing the tone symbol fonts respectively indicated by the tone codes.

Abstract: A system for ideographic character selection. Provision is made for selection of desired ideographic characters by use of designators termed combinational headwords each having a one-to-one correspondence with an ideographic character. The designators are phonetic/hieroglyphic coded and are applied to a reader the output of which is applied to a converter and to an output unit which outputs a signal corresponding to the desired Chinese or otherwise ideographic character which has been designated.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printing unit includes a wheel data memory housing wheel data such as kinds of characters provided in the daisy wheel by which it can be discriminated. The printing unit compares printing commands supplied to the printer and discriminates whether or not the characters to be printed included in the daisy wheel now being set in the printer. If it is discriminated that the characters to be printed are not included in the daisy wheel now being set in the printer, the user of the daisy wheel printing unit can select a desired printing mode from a plurality of printing modes including treatment for the above characters before the start of the printing operation of the document.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having two character generators, one which generates characters common to a plurality of countries, comprises a keyboard for entering character codes, a first character generator for producing certain character patterns representing certain character codes common to a plurality of countries, and a second character generator for producing other character patterns representing other character codes. A buffer stores the character codes entered by a keyboard and a selection signal generator generates a selection signal in dependence on each character code stored in the buffer. The selection signal indicates that the second character generator is to be utilized to produce the other character patterns represented by the other character codes. A processor controls the operation sequence ofthe apparatus.

Abstract: The video memory of a CRT display system is split into an application video memory and a CRT memory. The two memories are interconnected by logic means for manipulating primary and secondary texts whose characters proceed in directions which are different from each other. The character codes are applied to the application video memory. The logic manipulates the code in accordance with the rules of the primary and secondary languages and provides data to the CRT video memory for driving a CRT controller.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter includes a plurality of character keys, a specification selector, a printer circuit, and a memory for storing a plurality of specification tables, each having a plurality of key data. A data processing circuit detects a determined one of the plurality of specification tables in response to a selection signal from the specification selector, and reads out the corresponding key data from the specification table selected in accordance with the operation of the character keys, thereby driving the printer circuit in accordance with the key data. The specification selector includes a plurality of selection switches formed on the same keyboard together with the plurality of character keys.

Abstract: A system includes a keyboard for encoding Chinese characters and phrases. The invention relates to the quick input of Chinese characters and phrases into any large, medium, small and mini-sized computers as well as systems for Chinese information processing and communications. Some basic roots are selected according to their frequency distributions both in the constitution of characters and in practical usage, and classified in accordance with their inner links and compatible relations. These selected roots are then arranged on the twenty five keys of a standard keyboard in accordance with the probabilities of use of keys and the fingering of the keyboard in order to form a complete encoding system and a keyboard for Chinese. In the system, Chinese characters and phrases can be encoded according to their geometrical forms. Therefore the method is direct and easy to learn and convenient for touch typing, and the efficiency of input Chinese characters and phrases can be raised greatly.

Abstract: A computerized system for the rapid rendering of written or spoken material into printed text. A stenographic record of the material is produced by a reporter according to a stenographic system including "automatics" to enable batch translation of the stenographic data. The record thereby produced is translated rapidly and with a high degree of accuracy by a computer having a dictionary of the system stored in its memory. The translation is displayed upon the screen of an editing device for rapid editing by a word processing operator. The edited translation is applied to a transmitting modem. The modem encodes the edited translation for transmission to a remote computerized typesetter. The typesetter is directly programmed with the edited translation to produce a printed text of the material.

Abstract: The typing arrangement includes a character-bearing member of the "daisy wheel" type, the symbols of which can be printed at the point of printing either alone or in the form of combinations of successive strikes of certain symbols for constituting a font of printable characters and other symbols which is appreciably greater than the number of symbols on the daisy wheel, and adapted to meet the printing requirements of all the graphical symbols derived from one common alphabetical stem. Each printable character has an individual code which is recognizable by the control circuits of the arrangement which put into operation one or several printing cycles using selection of the symbol or of the symbols on the daisy wheel which make up the character and the displacements of the daisy wheel associated with the printing of the various component symbols.

Abstract: A character printing system in an electronic data processing apparatus is provided that is adapted for printing language characters in response to numerical value coded data entered through numeral keys of a keyboard, each character being represented by a respective numerical value coded data of a predetermined convention, wherein said language characters comprises at least two kinds of language characters, such as upper case type alphabet characters and lower case type alphabet characters, or English alphabet characters and Japanese kana characters, or the like, and the keyboard includes language character code entry mode key and language character kind specifying key as well as numeral keys and ordinary commanding keys, and a printer operable responsive to a storage for storing information entered through said keyboard is controlled by a print control responsive to said storage, whereby said printer is controlled to selectively print numerical value coded data in a kind of language characters specified by t

Abstract: A method of, and system for, increasing the number of characters available to be printed with a single print element. If a printer is printing from storage and the character being presented to the printer does not match the print element in use, a determination is made as to whether the character is in fact available on the element. If so, the character is caused to be printed. If not, a determination is made as to whether the presented character can be constructed from characters existing on the print element. If so, construction is caused to occur to avoid a print element change. If, however, the presented character does not exist on the print element and cannot be constructed from characters that do exist on the print element, a requirement for a print element change is signalled. Following a change, printing will continue with the new print element as long as characters are available, or can be constructed from available characters.

Abstract: A printer subsystem receives command and data information from a host system and retains a large number of font images in an associated storage area within the printer subsystem. A base font image set is ordinarily selected by the user but provision is made to dynamically change the font images as may be required in a real time fashion during actual printing operations. The font images are stored in a compressed form in the storage area. Routines involve use of pointer tables and data tables. It is possible to select an entire set of new font images in place of the base set of images or to modify only selected character images within the base font image set.

Abstract: The impact velocity with which a single element printer prints is determined by the velocity with which the printing element is propelled toward the record sheet. The mechanism disclosed herein is capable of adjusting the velocity with which a print element is projected toward the page such that the impact velocity and, thus the impact forces which are related to the velocity, are controlled and varied to provide a minimum of compromise with respect to printing forces and, thus, print quality. The control of the velocity with which the print element is propelled against the record sheet is accomplished by a cam which rotates with the print element during character selection and has thereon a plurality of rises corresponding to a displacement of a cam follower engaged with a print cam. The print cam is formed to present, in a plurality of different planes perpendicular to its axis, a like plurality of cam profiles and rises.

Abstract: A device for the processing of linguistic information containing a keyboard unit, an electronic processing unit and an output registration unit, with the keyboard unit processing keys for symbols distributed over a right hand side group to be operated by the right hand and a left hand side group to be operated by the left hand. The device has an electronic processing unit containing a memory, a decoder and a control unit, with the keyboard unit possessing space keys, the keys for symbols in the right hand side group having priority over the keys for symbols in the left hand side group. The keys for symbols in the right hand side group have priority from left to right and from top to bottom; the keys for symbols in the left hand side group have priority from right to left and from top to bottom.

Abstract: A font of alphabetical letters is disclosed herein which is to be employed for the printing of cursive writing script. The font is characterized by the fact that all of the letters are formed to combine with sets or subsets of individual letters of the font. The combination is by connecting each letter at the front or rear with a ligature in which it is indistinguishable that the letters are separately formed in the font. The method of printing is disclosed by which a letter of the font may be selected to indistinguishably connect in ligature with the preceding and following letters so that the printed cursive script is acceptable in appearance, and equal in form to cursive writing examples that represent the accepted standards of correct penmanship.

Abstract: A "Binary Compatible Character" consisting of nine straight line segments and a dot is provided. Subsets of the ten elements of the character form digits of the base-16 numbering system, letters of several alphabets, punctuation marks, mathematical operators, and phonemes. The invention covers simplified apparatus for reading the characters and forming the characters. A ten key keyboard incorporating parity check, a ten hammer composite printing head, and a ten photodetector reading head are prime elements of the invention. The combination of printer, printed matter, and reader constitute a data storage system for which the data may be most easily edited by a human using only an eraser and pencil.

Abstract: A data entry device with a keyboard for use with a data processing system. A first data set of input keys are arranged in a standard typewriter configuration. A second set of keys comprises additional rows of data input keys that enable the operator to enter various special characters or symbols that are encountered in different languages. One row of keys in the first set constitutes a variable row. A legend corresponding to a selectable set of symbols is juxtaposed to the variable row. An operator can select a set of characters so that each input key in the variable row thereafter functions to identify the character designated in a corresponding position of the juxtaposed legend.