Mystery hardware Part I

[neiderma@eden.rutgers.edu (Kid)]

Can anyone figure out this stuff?
 
 
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On a ][+ (looks to be an original ][ upgraded to a ][+ because it
has a REPT key) there is a membrane-keyboard strip attached to the
front lip of the computer lid.  The strip has about 12 buttons on it
and a ribbon cable which attaches via a db-9 connector to a daughter-
board attached to the keyboard board inside the machine.  The membrane
buttons display 0-9 and some other numerical stuff (period, plus, etc).
With the db-9 connector attached, the ][+ keyboard works OK, with it
unattached (which was how we got it) the keyboard prints the wrong
characters (push H-G-R and you get "IGS").  There is a Videx company
stamp on the strip.  What is this thing for?
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Sider message (with card in slot7):
                Hard disk if offline
                Version 2.02 2/16/87