REPROGRAMABLE MULTI-HOST, MULTI-CHARACTER SET KEYBOARD

A system having a keyboard capable of supporting multiple hosts and changing character sets. A first host processor communicates with a display. A keyboard has a plurality of independently moveable physical keys with each letter of an entire alphabet accessible by a single strike actuation of one of the plurality of keys. The keyboard uses twelve or fewer keys provide single strike access to the entire alphabet. A map defining functions of the keys appears on the display responsive to a prompting action of a user's hand without requiring any finger to leave the keys that provide access to the alphabet. The map defines the spatial relationship of each function relative to a home position of a finger.