Data processing apparatus (101 and 102) configured to receive
signals from an input sensor (106) arranged to duplicate or replace operations
of a keyboard, in which the signals correspond to positions of mechanical interactions
with the sensor (106). The apparatus comprises processing means (1202)
configured to process data derived from the input sensor including positional data
corresponding to the position of a mechanical interaction with said input sensor
(106) and a second data type corresponding to the absence of a mechanical
interaction with said input sensor. The processing means (1202) is configured
to generate data representing a first character in response to processing an item
of data of said second type followed by positional data corresponding to a first
position, and to generate data representing a different second character in response
to processing positional data corresponding to a different second position followed
by an item of data of said second type.