Apparatus and method for generating data signals

1) An handheld device comprising:

• a main body;
• at least one button integral with the main body, the at least one button having a state for causing generation of electrical signals, the state selected from the group of a binary state, a discrete state and a continuously variable state;
• a pair of thumb controllers integral with the main body and positioned so that each of the pair of thumb controllers may be tactilely engaged with a respective thumb of a user holding the handheld device;
• a pair of sensing means operatively connected with respective ones of the pair of thumb controllers whereby each of the pair of sensing means will generate an electrical signal in response to the user's tactile engagement with a respective one of the pair of thumb controllers;
• a processing module programmed with means for resolving a first electrical signal generated from a first one of the pair of sensing means and a second electrical signal generated from a second one of the pair of sensing means to determine an alphanumeric character to be generated;
• a means for generating an electronic data signal indicative of the alphanumeric character;
• the processing module further programmed with means for resolving the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal with an electrical signal generated by tactile engagement with the at least one button to determine a state change to be generated in a video game;
• a means for generating an electrical signal indicative of the video game state change;
• and
• a means for transmitting the electrical signal indicative of the video game state change from the handheld device whereby the electrical signal may be received by a receiving device for interaction with the video game.