Get All Access for $5/mo

Google's Latest Patent Might Replace Your Laptop's Space Bar With a Giant Trackpad With no space bar, where will all the astronauts hang out?

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A long-sought patent finally granted to Google yesterday suggests that the company is looking to save space on upcoming laptop models.

The patent lays out a laptop design in which the physical space bar is removed and replaced by an elongated trackpad. Sensors under the trackpad would determine whether users want to use the touch-sensitive surface as a space bar or a mouse, reports Quartz, which was first to spot the filing. A tap while typing will activate the space bar, and a tap while moving the mouse would result in a mouse click.

According to diagrams in the filing, the space bar could be distinguished from the rest of the trackpad by a slight line or ridge.

Though the reason for the redesign is ostensibly to produce smaller Chromebooks -- Google's line of laptops that operate predominantly in the cloud -- the search giant told Quartz that "prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents."

The patent was rejected twice over the last four years before being issued yesterday.

Related: Microsoft Wants to Clean Up Your Germ-Infested Smartphone Screen

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Says the Best Entrepreneurs Are Good at This One Thing

Real estate entrepreneur and investor Barbara Corcoran says a few key traits prove effective when starting a business. Here's her top pick.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

I Tried Buying a Car on Amazon. Here Are the Pros and Cons.

Amazon Autos just launched, and users can buy a new car online. Here's how it works and what needs to improve.

Business News

'I've Got All the Time in the World': AI Grandma Thwarts Scammers By Answering Their Calls

The AI persona called Daisy keeps scammers on the line for 40 minutes at a time with stories of her family and passion for knitting.