1. An interactive terminal, for communication with external data processing means, comprising: A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data received and transmitted; B. a data memory communicating with said display for storage of at least a portion of information received and transmitted; c. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents the transmission of "n" different information levels, "n" being an integer greater than 1; d. at least "n-l" shift level control keys simultaneously operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for transmission of all "n" information levels; e. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for transmitting selected keyboardinformation to at least said external data processing means; f. information receiving means communicating with said external data processing means and said data memory for receipt of information; and G. housing means dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard, and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys; whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the user's first hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard.
1. An interactive terminal, for communication with external data processing means, comprising: A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data received and transmitted; B. a data memory communicating with said display for storage of at least a portion of information received and transmitted; c. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents the transmission of "n" different information levels, "n" being an integer greater than 1; d. at least "n-l" shift level control keys simultaneously operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for transmission of all "n" information levels; e. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for transmitting selected keyboardinformation to at least said external data processing means; f. information receiving means communicating with said external data processing means and said data memory for receipt of information; and G. housing means dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard, and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys; whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the user's first hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard. 12. The interactive terminal as defined in claim 1, further comprising: H. keyboard encoder and control logic means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for generating a corresponding 6-bit binary word; I. transmitting means accepting the 6-bit binary word from said encoder and control logic means, incorporating means for adding a start bit and a stop bit to said binary word, and transmitting the resultant 8-bit binary word to the external data processing means; J. receiving means accepting an 8-bit binary word from the external data processing means, incorporating first means for masking the first and last bit of said binary word, and second means for transferring the 6-bit information portion of said word to memory in response to a memory transfer signal; and K. character address control means for determining available positions in said memory and incorporating second means for generating said memory transfer signal when the determination of available space in memory is made.