Data terminals having interactive keyboards and displays and data processing apparatus incorporating such terminals

Data processing apparatus comprising:

• a data processor;
• data storage means for storing a plurality of groups of messages or parts of a message capable of being received by the procesor;
• selection means for selecting from the storage means respective ones of said groups of messages or parts of a message;
• and
• a data terminal for communicating with the processor, the terminal comprising a keyboard having a plurality of manually-selectable keys, each key including means responsive to such manual selection to produce a signal, at least some of said signals being representative of respective ones of the messages or parts of a message within the group currently selected by the selection means, display means separate from the keyboard having a plurality of zones each corresponding to a respective key of the keyboard, the display means including means for displaying in each zone an indication of the message or part of a message currently represented by the key corresponding to that zone, control means responsive to said manual selection responsive means to change the visual appearance of the display produced by the display means so as to indicate which key has been selected and means selectably operable by the operator when a desired key has been selected to produce an output signal for communicating the message or part of a message currently represented by the selected key to the processor.

A keyboard module for use in a manually operable data terminal for allowing an operator to communicate with a data processor, comprising:

• a keyboard having a plurality of manually randomly selectable keys, each key including means responsive to such manual selection to produce a signal representative of a respective message or part of a message to be communicated to the processor;
• circuit means responsive to said selection responsive means for producing a first output signal indicative of which key is selected and suitable for verifying that a desired key has been correctly selected;
• and
• switch means, operable by manual depression of any selected key, for producing a second output signal suitable for enabling the respective message or part of a message represented by the selected key to be communicated to the processor.