A menu selection technique is based on orientation of a companion module used in a flexible load management (FLM) system. The FLM system includes a load center that utilizes circuit breakers in combination with companion modules (i.e., intelligent controllers). Each companion module has a graphical display as well as a push button included on a face of the module as an input device used to display and input information including icons, buttons, controls, messages, status, menus or other desired text on a user interface (UI) to enable a user to configure and operate the companion module. The companion module also includes an accelerometer configured to detect a gravitational orientation (i.e., a first orientation and an opposite or upside-down orientation) and movement of the module and, in response, generate a signal that is translated to a corresponding change in orientation of the information displayed on the UI, particularly when the companion module inserted into the load center.

A drumstick is provided. The drumstick comprises a shaft. A plurality of sound initiating elements are disposed along the shaft. The sound initiating elements are adapted for initiating generation of sound associated with simultaneously activating a plurality of percussion surfaces of a percussion music instrument.

A sanitary touch stick apparatus for sanitary pressing of buttons and touch screens includes a base having a base stick end, a base cap end, and a base sidewall. A sponge is coupled within the base. The sponge has a stick aperture extending from a sponge stick end through a sponge cap end. The sponge is saturated with a disinfectant solution. A cap is coupled to the base. The cap is selectively engageable with the base cap end. A handle is coupled to the base. The handle has an open handle engagement end selectively engageable with the base stick end and a sealed handle outer end. A touch stick is coupled to the handle. The touch stick protrudes from the handle engagement end and is selectively engageable within the stick aperture of the sponge.

Technologies for interfacing an input overlay device with a touch screen of a computing device are disclosed. A computing device includes a touch screen and at least one processor to execute instructions to: determine parameters associated with an input overlay device overlying the touch screen, the input overlay device separate from the computing device, the parameters to identify a first area of the touch screen and a second area of the touch screen different than the first area, the first area corresponding to an area of the touch screen covered by the input overlay device; detect a position of a touch on the touch screen; if the position of the touch is in the first area, determine an input for the computing device based on the position of the touch; and if the position of the touch is in the second area, ignore the touch.

A haptic keyboard of an information handling system may include a coversheet to identify a key location of the haptic keyboard; a support layer; a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer; a piezoelectric element placed between the contact foil and support layer to receive an applied mechanical stress at the key location of the coversheet and generate an electric actuation signal; and a controller of the information handling system operatively coupled to the contact foil to: receive an electric actuation signal from the piezoelectric element placed under the mechanical stress via the contact foil; and send an electrical response signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate haptic feedback at the key location.

An information processing apparatus includes: a body having a top configured to allow a touch panel to be disposed thereon; and an input auxiliary device. The input auxiliary device includes: a frame including a first holding piece and a second holding piece configured to hold one side and another side of the body, respectively, to mount the frame on the top; and a key unit attachable to a backside of the frame. The one side includes: a card slot; and a second underside extending along the top toward the another side between the top and the card slot. The first holding piece is configured to be locked to the second underside.

Implementations described herein relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for accessible computer-user interactions. For example, a method can include displaying a graphical user interface on a display screen. The graphical user interface includes a virtual assessment, the virtual assessment is representative of an assessment examination, and the graphical user interface further comprises a graphical element that represents a portion of a logical problem of the assessment examination. The method can also include receiving a signal indicative of placement of a physical object onto the display screen above the graphical element, repositioning the graphical element responsive to physical movement of the physical object on the display screen, and generating a portion of an assessment score based at least in part on one or more of: physical movement of the physical object on the display screen, the signal, or the repositioning of the graphical element.

A computer-implemented method and an associated device for managing multitouch presses on a touch surface are provided. The method includes at least steps of: during an interaction with a touch surface, computing at least parameters regarding the number, persistence and size of press points produced by conductive pads, the conductive pads being integrated into an interaction device worn by at least one user interacting with the touch surface, one of the faces of the conductive pads coming into interaction with the touch surface; identifying, from among a plurality of predefined interaction combinations, an interaction combination corresponding to the press points, based on the computed parameters, a predefined interaction combination being a configuration of multiple conductive pads that is associated with one or more actions; and carrying out the actions linked to the determined interaction combination.

An operation knob apparatus includes a base a conductive transmitting member, an operation member that brings the transmitting member near to and away from a display panel, and a stabilizer disposed between the bases and the operation member. The stabilizer includes a main body, a pair of arms connected to respective ends of the main body, and a pair of base portions and connected to the respective arms. One of the base and the operation member has a holding portion configured to rotatably hold the main body, and the other has a pair of holding grooves respectively configured to slidably and rotatably hold the base portions.

A capacitive motor vehicle operating system is described, comprising a capacitive screen with an operator interface as well as a pressure- and rotational-actuation device which is formed separately from the capacitive screen, and which is electrically conductive in areas and is at least partially affixed to the operator interface of the capacitive screen. The pressure- and rotational-actuation device comprises at least one electrically conductive interaction element which interacts with the capacitive screen.