14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one said key of said plurality of said keys is a multiple-ordered-group key to which multiple ordered groups of symbols have been assigned, said apparatus further comprising: an iterator key, engaged with said at least one multiple-ordered-group key, to select members of said ordered groups for input and presentation to the user, consecutively in an order, wherein said order of symbols of each of said ordered groups that are assigned to any given of said ordered groups of said multiple-ordered group key is fixed independently of the actuation of any other multiple-ordered-group keys, and wherein said orders of said ordered groups of symbols assigned to said given multiple-ordered-group key are independent of said orders of said ordered groups assigned to other multiple-ordered-group keys such that actuation of said iterator key to advance symbols assigned to said given multiple-ordered group key advances symbols assigned to said same multiple-ordered-group keys.
1. An apparatus for the input of symbols, comprising: a plurality of keys for inputting symbols, said plurality of keys having both: a) a digit, and b) at least one punctuation symbol assigned to the keys, said keys characterized in that, for each key having a digit and a punctuation symbol assigned to it: the punctuation symbols and digits are overlapped in fonts and the at least one punctuation symbol associated with the key is morphically similar to the digit assigned to the key, wherein the at least one punctuation symbol is assigned to the key based upon at least the punctuation symbol being morphically similar to the digit assigned to the key, such that: the punctuation symbol and digit occupy substantially the same keypad surface real estate when the punctuation symbols and digits are overlapped in fonts, wherein said at least one punctuation symbol and said digit being presented at a same time.