Computer application programs data input interface for handicapped persons responsive to multiple push buttons for selecting data stored

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a computer system of a type having a data processing means capable of running a plurality of different application programs under an operating system having an interface for receiving data from a keyboard and communicating said data through said operating system to one of said application programs, an improved data entry mechanism comprising:

a means for storing an ordered list of data arranged in a binary tree in which data elements are stored in separate nodes traversable through left and right branches;

a first switching means for selective manipulation to a left state;

a second switching means for selective manipulation to a right state;

binary selection algorithm means coupled to said first and second switching means and to said means for storing an ordered list for selecting a particular data element;

said selection algorithm defining a pointer for indicating a given data element in said ordered list and being responsive to said first switching means to cause said pointer to traverse left in response to said left state and being responsive to said second switching means to cause said pointer to traverse right in response to said right state;

third switching means coupled to said selection algorithm for selective manipulation to cause the given data element indicated by said pointer to be input through said interface and said operating system to said application program.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second switching means comprises a push button.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second switching means comprises a joystick.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said selection algorithm comprises a software program running under said operating system.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said selection algorithm comprises a software program run by said data processing means.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said selection algorithm is interactively coupled to said operating system.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said selection algorithm is a memory resident program running under said operating system.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said selection algorithm is a software program interactively coupled with at least one of said application programs running under said operating system.

9. A user interface for a word processing program of a type operable on a computer system running under an operating system, the operating system having a data interface for receiving data from a keyboard and for communicating said data through said operating system to said word processing program, comprising:

means for storing an ordered list of words arranged in a binary tree in which said words are stored in separate nodes traversable through left and right branches;

a first switching means for selective manipulation to a left state;

a second switching means for selective manipulation to a right state;

binary selection algorithm means coupled to said first and second switching means and to said means for storing an ordered list for selecting a particular word;

said selection algorithm defining a pointer for indicating a given word in said ordered list and being responsive to said first switching means to cause said pointer to traverse left in response to said left state and being responsive to said second switching means to cause said pointer to traverse right in response to said right state;

third switching means coupled to said selection algorithm for selective manipulation to cause a given word indicated by said pointer to be input through data interface and said operating system to said word processing program.

10. The user interface of claim 9 wherein at least one of said first and second switching means comprises a push button.

11. The user interface of claim 9 wherein at least one of said first and second switching means comprises a joystick.

12. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said selection algorithm comprises a software program running under said operating system.

13. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said computer system includes a data processing means and wherein said selection algorithm comprises a software program run by said data processing means.

14. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said selection algorithm is interactively coupled to said operating system.

15. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said selection algorithm is a memory resident program running under said operating system.

16. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said selection algorithm is a software program running concurrently with said word processing program running under said operating system.