Method, apparatus and computer, program for three- dimensional text creation

[0001] [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a user interface for a computerized device, and more particularly to rendering information for a user with a three-dimensionally detectable contour in a three-dimensional display device. [0002] [Conventional technology] Data processing systems generally rely on pointing and data entry devices for receiving input, as well as display devices for displaying data in a visible manner. Display devices are generally limited to displaying in two dimensions. Although graphical achievements have been made to display virtual 3D objects, the 3D world is still limited to 2D visible displays on common display devices. [0003] Typical data entry devices include, for example, keyboards, keypads, or other such devices capable of entering data in the form of control signs or some other symbol. Data entry devices are limited to receiving input for certain control signs. There are a certain number of keys, and the majority of those keys have a certain sign. Some of the most recently developed speech recognition devices can be used in place of the keyboard. However, due to privacy and environmental noise issues, there are limits to the usability of speech recognition devices. [0004] Pointing devices are limited in that they generally only give the user a visible association. Moreover, such devices rely on the synchronization of the user's hands and eyes. In addition, most pointing devices are limited to non-symbolic input, which requires the user to switch between a pointing device and a data entry device to accomplish the task. [0005] One area of development in interface devices pertains to three-dimensionally detectable surfaces that provide information to users. For example, a hyper-blair reader allows a user with poor eyesight to detect a braille character from a three-dimensionally detectable surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,978 discloses one such reader. U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,423 discloses a combination of pointing and display devices, wherein the display device contains a sterically detectable surface. [0006] When a three-dimensionally detectable interface device is used with a normal application, difficult problems arise, including legacy problems, for a number of reasons. There are a large number of existing software applications that do not contain the feature of supporting three-dimensionally detectable rendering of information associated with the existing software application or processed by the existing software application. That is, these applications have standard attributes for displaying in a single plane in a 2D display device, but can receive information that is not directly related to 3D rendering. Modifying and recompiling these applications to allow them to support sterically detectable interface devices would often be impractical. Therefore, somehow their existing so that they have real-time compatibility with stereoscopically detectable interface devices without extensive modification of existing applications or formatted information for existing applications. There is a requirement to directly interpret the application and information of. [0007] There are some major limitations to these conventional attempts to provide a three-dimensional or topograph interface. They primarily apply to closed systems or platform or application dependent systems. Alternatively, they support only certain limited topograph elements or attributes. [0008] Today's enterprise native applications do basic 2D rendering of complex graphical objects for output devices, depending on the operating system (OS). There is an application framework for 2D applications, but no application framework for 3D applications. Application frameworks allow applications to accomplish their programming tasks using application programming interfaces (APIs). Producing 3D data for OS enterprise stack applications can be very costly. This is because the surface input of current 3D hardware devices is not supported by the 2D OS that was the contrast when developing the application. As mentioned earlier, in some cases it is not practical to recompile an existing 2D legacy application. [0009] Problems associated with traditional efforts to achieve 3D and topograph systems in Java (R) based systems include: (1) Currently, the Legacy Java (R) Virtual Machine (JVM) is known only in the two-dimensional aspect (x, y); (2) Currently, JVMs that require topograph input / output (I / O) devices must coexist with existing I / O devices (displays, audio, keyboards, and mice), which is negative for performance. Don't make an impact; (3) Currently, the JVM is required to support a topograph device (generally requiring a framework for processing 3D bidirectional feedback from users and displaying 3D topograph data). , Need to incorporate closed-loop control feedback system; (4) There is a problem when converting legacy 2D information and 3D topograph information into information specific to the topograph device. (5) The need for a topograph input / output device is different from that of a typical device connected to a JVM operating system. [0010] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Simply put, the Java (R) system allows a wide range of topograph attributes to be associated with those objects, yet provides a command structure for implementing these additional attributes, but the current Java (R) ) The systems run on traditional native platform-specific OSs, so they do not support the topograph extension interface. Each current system utilizes specific hardware and / or application modules for a particular closed system. These modules cannot be extended to other platforms and / or applications and only support pre-programmed topology attributes. Therefore, there are many demands for Java (R) -based systems that utilize the JVM to improve their support for 3D topograph information. [0011] [Means for solving problems] The above requirements are processed by the present invention, such as the following (in accordance with the present invention, a computer system receives information). Information has attributes that a computer system interprets to display in a single plane in a two-dimensional display device. According to the present invention, the information is rendered as a three-dimensionally detectable contour for the user on the control surface of the 3D display device. The control surface is flexible by controlling the position of the flexible material, a number of mechanisms dispersed around the flexible material, and the control surface so that it provides a three-dimensional space. It has a large number of actuators for adjusting the height of the material. [0012] For display on a two-dimensional display device, the information includes a background attribute and a character attribute, which enable the character to be displayed in a color or shade that contrasts with the background. At least one of those characters has certain character attributes for two-dimensional display, such as bold, italic, underline, font type, or color. Background indicators are rendered on the first plane of control surface space, while one indicator of those characters is rendered on the second plane of that space, as rendered in a 3D display device. It has the top surface of the character. In this case, the second plane is the first height above the first plane. A display of one of those characters with a given character attribute has the top surface of that character rendered on a third plane of space. In this case, the third plane is the second height above the first plane. [0013] It adapts in real time without extensive modification of the information or application so that the information formatted for the application and the existing application is compatible with the three-dimensionally detectable interface device. Make it possible. [0014] In another aspect, the characters to be displayed on a normal 2D display device are converted to Braille characters for rendering as a Braille character display on a 3D display device. [0015] In another aspect, the actuator of the 3D display device can provide variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered stiff or soft by varying the variable resistance to forces in the mechanism. Thus, in one application, characters on a background display or control surface are rendered hard or soft in response to whether the background or characters have certain 2D display device-related attributes. In addition, the 3D display device has an element for heating its mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold, and in one application, the characters on the background display or control surface are that. Rendered hard or soft in response to whether the background or text has certain 2D display-related attributes. [0016] In a further aspect, the background is rendered coarse or smooth on the control surface according to the attributes of the background. That is, according to the attributes, the background display on the control surface is rendered in only one plane of space or in multiple planes of space. [0017] Another object and advantage of the present invention will become apparent by reading the detailed description below and referring to the accompanying drawings. [0018] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A good understanding of the present invention, preferred modes of use, additional objectives and advantages will be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the examples presented in connection with the accompanying drawings. [0019] With reference to FIG. 1, a computer system 100, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. The system 100 includes a processor 115, volatile memory 120 (ie RAM), keyboard 125, pointing device 130, non-volatile memory 135 (eg ROM, hard disk, floppy (R) disk, CD-ROM, etc.) ), A two-dimensional display device 110, and a three-dimensional input / output device 140. The components in system 100 are interconnected by bus 145. The memories 120 and 135 are for storing the program that controls the processor 115, and the processor 115 operates together with the program to be executed as disclosed in the present application. [0020] The two-dimensional display device 110 is also shown in this embodiment because the program executed in the system 100 includes a program developed for such a general display device 110. One aspect of the invention is to successfully adapt such a program suitable for a typical display device 110 to work with a 3D input / output device 140, or to display on a general display device 110. It relates to adapting the information having the attribute of to operate with the three-dimensional input / output device 140. In another embodiment, the system 100 does not include the 2D display device 110. The illustrated two-dimensional display device 110 may use a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal, a field emission device, or another type of common display element that displays in a substantially single plane. That is, the display surface of the display device 110 may not be able to obtain the ideal flatness and may be slightly curved due to manufacturing limitations, but nevertheless it is substantially Display an image on a single plane, even on curved surfaces. Of course, those images can be rendered to have a three-dimensional appearance or illusion by something like shading, but nevertheless, those images are rendered to be displayed in two dimensions. [0021] [0021] FIG. 1 shows multiple versions of the letter "F" displayed in a two-dimensional display device 110 against a background of two different backgrounds. Both backgrounds are in contrast to those letters. The upper three letters 101-103 are displayed against a white background, while the lower two letters 104 and 105 are displayed against a gray background (indicated by a mesh shade in the figure). Is displayed. The character 101 displayed in the upper left corner of the device 110 is in the "alien" font. That is, the character 101 is associated with an attribute that the program executed in the system 100 interprets in such a way as to render a character having the appearance of an "alien" font as shown on the display device 110. The character 102, just to the right of the character 101, is displayed in the "Times New Roman" font. The character 103, just to the right of the character 102, is displayed in bold in the "alien" font. That is, the character 102 only associates with it an attribute that the program running in the system 100 interprets in such a way as to render a character with the appearance of an "alien" font as shown on the display device 110. Instead, it associates with it an attribute that the program interprets to render a character with a bold appearance. The character 104 on the left in the lower portion of the display device, i.e. the gray background, has the "italic" attribute, while the character 105 on the immediate right has the "underline" attribute. (Since all drawings in the present application are black and white, the characters shown on the display device 110 in FIG. 1 are shown as black characters as opposed to a bright background, but similar to the background. In addition, it will be clear that the characters can be in any color. In the existing application software in a typical display device 110, the characters have a contrasting color or shading with respect to the background. [0022] The figures after FIG. 2 in the present application show a method in which characters such as the characters shown in FIG. 1 are rendered in the three-dimensional input / output device 140. However, first, the details of the input / output device 140 will be described. [0023] With reference to FIG. 2, a side view of the three-dimensional input / output device 140 is shown according to one embodiment. The device 140 has a control surface 210 that includes a flexible material 238 and a support mechanism 242 dispersed around the flexible material. Many support mechanisms 242 can render information with a three-dimensionally detectable contour created by selectively pressing the flexible material 238 of the control surface so that it spreads over the first plane 250. [0024] Further, the three-dimensional input / output device 140 has a moving element 241 including a ball 244. The ball 244 rotates on a flat surface, such as the top surface of a table, in response to a user question in device 140. The rotation of the ball 244 is sensed by several different movement sensors 246A, 246B, and 246C that are well known in the prior art, such as pointing devices that take the mouse as an example. The moving element 241 is used to provide an input function to the device 140. With that moving element, the relative movement of device 140 can be used to control the position of the pointer in display device 110 (FIG. 1). Further, since the device 140 can be used to display all or part of the information generally displayed on the display device 110, the movement of the device 140 renders which part of that information is rendered on the device 140. It can also be used to control what is done. [0025] Next, referring to FIG. 3, a further aspect of the three-dimensional input / output device 140 is shown. On the left side of the device 140, as shown, a zoom wheel 334 is provided to control the portion of the information generally displayed on the display device 110 that should be displayed on the device 140, that is, rendered. Be done. Further, a connecting element 336 for connecting the device 140 to the system 100 (FIG. 1) is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, one of the "F" characters, such as the letter 102 in display device 110, is converted by system 100 to the braille letter "F" 310 and rendered on the control surface 210 of device 140. That is, the display body in one display format of the characters 102 shown in FIG. 1 is converted into another format, that is, the braille display body 310 of the characters shown in FIG. (It will be clear that all the characters shown in FIG. 1 can be rendered as a braille display on device 140, and that only a single braille character is shown for illustration purposes only). [0026] The two "F" letters in FIG. 1 are rendered and shown in the lower portion of the control surface 210 in FIG. According to this embodiment, the letter 320 shown in the lower left part of FIG. 3 represents the "alien" letter 101 shown in FIG. 1, while the letter 330 shown in the lower right part of FIG. Represents the bold "alien" character 103 shown in FIG. Therefore, the character 320 on the left is rendered at a lower height than the character 330 on the right. That is because the character 320 on the left represents a non-bold character according to the attributes for the general display device 110, while the character 330 on the right represents a character that is bold according to the attributes for the general display device 110. Is. [0027] Next, referring to FIG. 4, the heights of the letters 320 and 330, respectively, are shown in elevation of the portion shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the white background of FIG. 1 is represented as the first plane 250 in the display device 140. The top of the character 320 is rendered on the second plane 410 on the display device 140. The top of the character 330 is rendered on the third plane 420 on the display device 140. The second plane 410 is not as above the first plane 250 as the third plane 420. This is because the third plane 420 is the plane to the top of the character 330, which represents the bold character 103 (FIG. 1). [0028] Next, referring to FIG. 5, a part of the information shown in the display device 110 (FIG. 1) is rendered in the three-dimensional input / output device 140. In this embodiment, the background 510 surrounding the character 320 is rendered in a bump in response to a background with a given attribute. That is, since the background is white near the character 101 with respect to the 2D display device 110, the corresponding background 510 in this embodiment is hump-like around the character 320 representing the character 101 in the 3D input / output device 140. Rendered to. Further to the left of FIG. 5, background 520, which represents a portion of the gray background in FIG. 1, is rendered as a single plane, ie, a smooth surface in the first plane 250 (FIGS. 2-6). .. [0029] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the heights of the letters 320 and the bumps in the background are shown in more detail in elevation at the portion shown in FIG. The white background in FIG. 1 is represented on the display device 140 as a first plane 250 with a hump 605. The top of the hump is on the fourth plane 610, as shown in FIG. As mentioned above, the top of the character 320 is rendered on the second plane 410 on the display device 140. In this embodiment, the fourth plane 610 is not as high as the first plane 250 as the second plane 410. However, it will be clear that the fourth plane 610 is not necessarily higher or lower than the second plane 410 or the third plane 420 (FIG. 4). [0030] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an embodiment of one support mechanism 242 is shown. It will be clear that this support mechanism 242 shown in FIG. 7 is one of the many support mechanisms shown in FIG. As shown, the flexible material 238 is adjusted by the position of the screw flange 750. The actuator 752 rotates the screw flange 750 to control the internal force exerted by the screw flange 750 on the flexible material 238. In addition, the actuator 752 controls the resistance of the screw flange 750 so that when external pressure is applied, the position of the screw flange 750 is adjusted with a particular resistance. That is, the flexible material 238 of the control surface 210 (FIG. 2) can be rendered hard or soft by varying its resistance. The controller supplies the actuator 752 with a control signal that specifies the desired position and resistance of the screw flange 750. Thus, in response to whether the background or text has certain attributes for display on the 2D display device 110 (FIG. 1), the text or background is solid on the control surface 210 of the 3D input / output device 140. Or it can be rendered softly. [0031] Further, FIG. 7 shows a temperature actuator 702 coupled to the screw flange 750 by a heating element 704. The controller supplies the actuator 702 with a control signal that specifies the desired heating to the screw flange 750. Therefore, by using the temperature actuator 702, the background or characters respond to whether they have certain attributes to display on the 2D display device 110 (FIG. 1), the 3D input / output device. It can be rendered hot or cold on the control surface 210 of 140. [0032] FIG. 8 shows a Topograph device-specific framework 800 that supports several different Topograph devices. The topograph device user interface 801 includes device-specific characteristics such as zoom (x, y, z). The topograph device manager 803 knows which topograph device is needed to convert a particular topograph input signal and selects an applicable converter. A plurality of topograph device converters or filters connected from the topograph device 1 and the topograph device 2 to the topograph device n are indicated by reference numerals 807 to 809. The topograph device 1 converter 807 may be, for example, a temperature converter, the topograph device 2 converter 808 may be a roughness converter, and the topograph device n converter 809 may be an illuminance converter. In one desirable embodiment, an optical topograph database (not shown) is used to store user configuration data. The topograph device manager 803 operates on light intensity, length, roughness, temperature, and compression elasticity, as well as another type of topograph attribute, each having converters 807, 808, and the like. These converters are implemented using software code that resides in the OS code or subroutines for the OS code. Applicable hardware and / or firmware devices such as 3D I / O device 140 (Figure 1) are provided with output from the converter to render specific attributes via the Topograph User I / O 811 and interface. Provides input for 801. [0033] Although the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functional data processing system, the processes of the present invention can disperse instructions in various forms in the form of computer-readable media, and in practice to carry out that dispersal. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal carrying medium used. Examples of computer-readable media include recordable type media such as floppy (R) disks, hard disk drives, RAM, and CD-ROMs, and communication type media such as digital and analog communication links. Including. [0034] The description of this example is provided for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive and to limit the invention to the disclosed form. Many modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, device 140 is described herein as a three-dimensional input / output device, but in another embodiment the device is a three-dimensional display, i.e. an output device, and in yet another embodiment the device. It will be clear that is a 3D input device. Further, although device 140 is shown with a trackball type mobile element 241 in another embodiment, another type of mobile tracking element, one example of which is an optical tracking device, may be used. It is also clear. In addition, although a limited number of rendering features are described, including height, heat rendering, and hardness, ie, rendering of resistance to user force, another feature in another embodiment. It is also clear that it will be rendered. For example, in one embodiment, a portion of the control surface, such as a character or background portion, is rendered in such a way as to illuminate it. [0035] Further, in the present application, a character having a bold character attribute for a general two-dimensional display device is rendered higher than the same character without the bold character attribute for a three-dimensional input / output device. However, higher renderings respond to other attributes for common display devices such as italics, underlines, font types (eg Helvetica, Alial, Times New Roman, etc.), colors, etc. It will be clear that it is also good. It will also be clear that high or low renderings, hot or cold renderings, etc. can be combined. For example, in one example, a character with a bold attribute and a point size attribute of 14 points or more is rendered high and relatively hot, while a point with a bold attribute but less than 14 points. Characters with size are high but not hot and are rendered. [0036] It will also be clear that the present invention is well suited for use with many popular applications, including book readers and browsers. [0037] Repeatedly, the examples have been selected and described to best illustrate the principles of the invention and practical applications thereof, and to allow those skilled in the art to understand the invention. .. Other various examples with different modifications may be suitable for the particular application intended, but they will also be within the technical scope of the invention. [0038] In summary, the following matters will be disclosed with respect to the constitution of the present invention. [0039] (1) Make it a method for user interface (a) In the step of receiving information including background and characters, at least one of the characters has a predetermined character attribute, and the information can be displayed on one plane in a two-dimensional display device. With steps, the characters may appear in contrasting colors or shades with respect to the background. (b) A step of rendering the information for the user onto a control surface of a three-dimensional display device, wherein the control surface is a flexible material and a plurality of mechanisms dispersed around the flexible material. It has a plurality of actuators for controlling the position of the mechanism to adjust the height of the flexible material so that the control surface provides a three-dimensional space, and the background display body is the space. One representation of the character rendered on the first plane has the top surface of the character rendered on the second plane of space, with the second plane above the first plane. With a step, one display of the character having a first height and having the predetermined character attribute has the top surface of the character rendered on a third plane of space. Including methods. (2) Including the step of converting the character into a braille character The method according to (1) above, wherein the rendering of the information includes rendering the display body of the character as a braille display of the character. (3) The method according to (1) above, wherein the predetermined character attribute is bold, italic, underlined, font type or color. (4) The actuator of the three-dimensional display device can give the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance against the force in the mechanism. In response to whether the background has a background attribute, the background display is rendered hard or soft on the control surface. The method described in (1) above. (5) The actuator of the three-dimensional display device can give the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance against the force in the mechanism. In response to whether one of the characters has the character attribute on the control surface, one display of the character is rendered hard or soft on the control surface. The method described in (1) above. (6) The three-dimensional display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. In response to whether the background has a predetermined background attribute on the control surface, the background display is rendered hot or cold on the control surface. The method described in (1) above. (7) The three-dimensional display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. The method of (1) above, wherein one display of the character is rendered hot or cold on the control surface in response to whether one of the characters has the character attribute on the control surface. (8) The step (b) is performed only in the third plane of the space having the third height, or in the third plane and the fourth plane of the space having the fourth height. Rendering a display of the background of the control surface, and rendering the background only in the third plane or in the third plane and the fourth plane, does the background have a predetermined background attribute? Please respond, The method described in (1) above. (9) A three-dimensionally detectable display device having a control surface, wherein the control surface is a flexible material, a plurality of mechanisms dispersed around the flexible material, and the control surface. Three-dimensional detection with a plurality of actuators for controlling the position of the mechanism to adjust the height of the flexible material so as to provide a three-dimensional space having dimensions of length, width and height. Possible display devices and With the processor A memory for storing a program, wherein the processor can operate with the program to receive information including characters, at least one of the characters has a predetermined character attribute, and the information is two-dimensional. It can be displayed on one plane in the display device, the characters can be displayed in contrasting colors or shades with respect to the background, and the processor is on the control surface of the 3D display device for the user. The control surface can work with the program to render information about the flexible material, a plurality of mechanisms dispersed around the flexible material, and the control surface in length, width. And a plurality of actuators for controlling the position of the mechanism to adjust the height of the flexible material so as to provide a three-dimensional space having a dimension of height, and one display of the character. Is displayed in the first plane having the first height of the space and displayed in the second plane having the second height of the space. Including computer systems. (10) The processor can operate with a program for converting the characters into braille characters. Rendering of the information includes rendering the display body of the character as a character in a braille display. The computer system described in (9) above. (11) The computer system according to (9) above, wherein the character attribute is bold, italic, underlined, font type, or color. (12) The information includes background information. The actuator of the three-dimensionally detectable display device can provide the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance to the force in the mechanism. Rendering of information on the control surface of the stereoscopically detectable display device includes rendering of a background display on the control surface, the background responding to whether the background has a background attribute. The ground display is rendered hard or soft, The computer system described in (9) above. (13) The actuator of the three-dimensionally detectable display device can impart the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance to the force in the mechanism. Rendering of information on the control surface of the stereoscopically detectable display device comprises rendering one display of the characters on the control surface. The display is rendered stiff or soft in response to whether the character has the character attribute. The computer system described in (9) above. (14) The information includes background The three-dimensionally detectable display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. Rendering of information on the control surface of the stereoscopically detectable display device includes rendering of a background display on the control surface. In response to whether the background has a given background attribute, the background display is rendered hot or cold. The computer system described in (9) above. (15) The three-dimensionally detectable display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. Rendering of information on the control surface of the stereoscopically detectable display device comprises rendering one display of characters on the control surface. In response to whether the character has character attributes, the display of the character is rendered hot or cold. The computer system described in (9) above. (16) The information includes background information. The rendering is a rendering of the background display in only the third plane of the space having a third height, or in the third plane and the fourth plane of the space having a fourth height. Including Rendering of the third plane alone or the background of the third and fourth planes responds to whether the background has a given background attribute. The computer system described in (9) above. (17) An instruction for receiving information including characters, wherein at least one of the characters has a predetermined character attribute, the information can be displayed on one plane in a two-dimensional display device, and the character is. Instructions that can be displayed in contrasting colors or shades against the background, An instruction for rendering information for a user onto a control surface of a three-dimensional display device, wherein the control surface comprises a flexible material, a plurality of mechanisms dispersed around the flexible material, and said. It has a plurality of actuators for controlling the position of the mechanism to adjust the height of the flexible material so that the control surface provides a three-dimensional space having dimensions of length, width, and height. , One display body of the character is displayed on the first plane of the space having the first height, and one display body of the character having the character attribute is of the space having the second height. Displayed in the second plane, including instructions, A computer program for the user interface. (18) Includes instructions for converting the characters to braille characters The computer program according to (17) above, wherein rendering the information comprises rendering a character display as characters in a braille display. (19) The computer program according to (17) above, wherein the character attribute is bold, italic, underlined, font type, or color. (20) The information includes background information. The actuator of the three-dimensional display device can provide the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance to the force in the mechanism. The instructions for rendering information on the control surface of the 3D display device include instructions for rendering a background display on the control surface, in response to whether the background has background attributes. The display is rendered stiff or soft. The computer program described in (17) above. (21) The actuator of the three-dimensional display device can provide the variable resistance so that the control surface is rendered hard or soft by changing the variable resistance to the force in the mechanism. The instruction for rendering information on the control surface of the three-dimensional display device includes an instruction for rendering one display body of the character on the control surface, and responds to whether or not the character has a character attribute. The display is rendered stiff or soft. The computer program described in (17) above. (22) The information includes background information. The three-dimensional display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. The instructions for rendering the information on the control surface of the three-dimensional display device include instructions for rendering the background display on the control surface. The display is rendered hot or cold in response to whether the background has a given background attribute. The computer program described in (17) above. (23) The three-dimensional display device includes an element for heating the mechanism so that the control surface is rendered hot or cold. The instructions for rendering the information on the control surface of the three-dimensional display device include instructions for rendering one display body of the characters on the control surface. The display is rendered hot or cold in response to whether the character has the character attribute. The computer program described in (17) above. (24) The information includes background information. The instruction to render is only in the third plane of the space having the third height, or in the background in the third plane and the fourth plane of the space having the third and fourth heights. Contains instructions for rendering the display of Rendering the background only in the third plane or in the third and fourth planes responds to whether the background has a given background attribute. The computer program described in (17) above. [Simple explanation of drawings] FIG. 1 shows a computer system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a side view of a three-dimensional input / output device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a further aspect of a three-dimensional input / output device. FIG. 4 shows the height of each of the two characters rendered in the three-dimensional input / output device in an elevation view. FIG. 5 shows a part of the information when the information from the 2D display device of FIG. 1 is rendered in the 3D input / output device. FIG. 6 further shows the heights of the characters and the bumps in the background when rendered in a 3D input / output device. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a support mechanism for one three-dimensional input / output device. FIG. 8 shows a device-specific framework with a particular topograph converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols] 100 computer system 110 2D display device 115 processor 120 volatile memory 125 keyboard 130 pointing device 135 non-volatile memory 140 3D input / output device