Actuators are positioned over the rows of keys in a keyboard to drive the keys in response to coded information from a computer or other source of digital signals. The mechanical driving force is transferred from solenoids positioned at one end of each row simultaneously to all of the actuators of that row. Additional solenoids positioned across the bottom of the keyboard sequentially unlatch selected actuators allowing them to drive their associated keys in response to the driving force. Additional solenoids are used to drive the shift mechanism and, if necessary, other individual keys.
A text editing device has an input keyboard with data keys and control keys. A digital controller couples to the keyboard for receiving input signals representative of the keys as they are manually depressed, for storing digital data words representative of the depressed data keys, and for performing predetermined editing operations on the data words in response to the depressed control keys. The editing operations produces edited data words. An electromechanical keypusher is coupled to receive the output signals. The keypusher mounts on any office typewriter and depresses keys thereon corresponding to the edited data words represented by the output signals.
A low profile keyboard operating system in which a generally orthogonal matrix of mechanically movable row and column matrix members is disposed over the keyboard to be operated with the intersections of the matrix members adjacent to the keys, the arrangement being such that actuation of only one member at an intersection will not operate a key while operation of both members at an intersection actuates a key.
