Electrical circuit control devices are affixed to the front of an electronic image display screen (13), within the image displaying area, to provide instantly changeable labels and other graphics which convey information pertaining to operation of the controls. The control devices may be of any of a variety of types that are variously operated by depressing switch button (17, 18), turning a knob (24), flexing or tilting a joystick or exerting force against an immovable knob. The control devices have compact and durable constructions which enable the devices to be wholly at the front of the display screen as opposed to extending through openings in a screen. Operator manipulation of the control devices is variously sensed by radio frequency sensors, Hall effect sensors, strain gauge sensors, touch sensitive circuits or electromechanical contacts. A remote control unit (11) controls any of variety of different electronic devices and displays different switch button labels (19) and other graphics (21a, 21b) during controlling of different ones of the devices. A pivotable earpiece enables the same remote control unit to function as a cellular telephone and a cordless telephone.
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