Configurable industrial input devices that use electrically conductive elastomer

A method of configuring an operating control device having a foam tactile sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) defining an input button and a location of said input button corresponding to a portion of said tactile sensor;
• (b) defining a first function of said input button, said first function associated with an existence of, a first defined level of pressure of, and a location of a touch on said tactile sensor;
• and
• (c) defining a second function of said input button, said second function associated with an existence of, a second defined level of pressure of, and said location of a touch on said tactile sensor.

A computer program product for configuring an operator control panel having a tactile sensor, said computer program product comprising:

• computer code for defining an input button and a location of said input button corresponding to a portion of said tactile sensor;
• computer code for defining a first function of said input button, said first function associated with an existence of, a first defined level of pressure of, and a location of a touch on said tactile sensor;
• and
• computer code for defining a second function of said input button, said second function associated with an existence of, a second defined level of pressure of, and said location of a touch on said tactile sensor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium for storing said computer codes.