User notification system with an illuminated computer input device

A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

• (a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;
• (b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step;
• and
• (c) establishing a set of senders, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a sender of an incoming message is in the set.

A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

• (a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;
• and
• (b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step,
• wherein said determining step includes determining whether an instant message has been received and determining whether an email message has been received,
• wherein said changing step includes changing the state associated with the illumination member to a first state in response to determining an instant message has been received and changing the state associated with the illumination member to a second state in response to determining an email message has been received.

A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

• (a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;
• and
• (b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step,
• wherein said determining step includes determining one of a state, a characteristic, and a condition relating to a character in a game program,
• wherein said changing step includes changing the state associated with the illumination member to a first state in response to determining a change in the state of the character in the game program, changing the state associated with the illumination member to a second state in response to determining a change in the characteristic of the character in the game program, and changing the state associated with the illumination member to a third state in response to determining a change in the condition of the character in the game program.

A method for controlling an illumination member on a computer input device, said method comprising:

• (a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;
• (b) changing a state associated with the illumination member in response to the determination step;
• and
• (c) establishing a set of senders, wherein said determining step includes determining whether a sender of an incoming message is in the set, wherein said changing step includes causing the illumination member to change intensity.

A computer-readable device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

• (a) determining, in a computer, whether a predetermined event has occurred;
• (b) communicating with a computer input device having an illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a first state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to receipt of a new email message;
• (c) communicating with the computer input device having the illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a second state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to receipt of a new instant message;
• and
• (d) communicating with the computer input device having the illumination member to cause the illumination member to change to a third state in response to determining that the predetermined event corresponds to input of a correct answer.