Keyboard with adaptive input row

1. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion, the lower portion having an opening;

a primary display positioned at least partially within the upper portion of the housing;

a keyboard positioned at least partially within the lower portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned at least partially within the opening of the lower portion of the housing and along a first side of the keyboard and comprising:

a cover for receiving a touch, wherein an edge of the cover is spaced apart from a side of the opening of the lower portion;

a display positioned below the cover and configured to present an adaptable set of indicia; and

a touch sensor configured to detect a location of the touch; and

a touch input device positioned along a second side of the keyboard opposite to the adaptive input row.

2. The laptop computer of claim 1 , wherein:

the adaptive input row is positioned adjacent to a number row of the keyboard; and

wherein the second side of the keyboard is a lower side of the keyboard.

3. The laptop computer of claim 1 , wherein:

multiple user-input regions are defined along a length of the cover;

a first user-input region of the multiple user-input regions is responsive to the touch in a first input mode; and

the first user-input region is not responsive to the touch in a second input mode.

4. The laptop computer of claim 1 , wherein:

the laptop computer further comprises a force sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of a force of the touch;

the force sensor is positioned below the display; and

the force sensor includes a first pair of capacitive electrodes separated by a compressible layer.

5. The laptop computer of claim 4 , wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a seal to prevent an ingress of moisture or liquid into an internal volume of the adaptive input row.

6. The laptop computer of claim 4 , wherein:

the first pair of capacitive electrodes is disposed at a first end of the display;

the adaptive input row further comprises a second pair of capacitive electrodes disposed at a second end of the display;

the laptop computer further comprises a sensor circuit operatively coupled to the first and second pairs of capacitive electrodes; and

the sensor circuit is configured to output a signal that corresponds to the location of the touch on the cover based on a relative amount of deflection between the first and second pairs of capacitive electrodes.

7. The laptop computer of claim 1 , wherein:

the laptop computer further comprises a force sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of a force of the touch;

the force sensor is positioned below the display; and

the force sensor comprises an array of force-sensitive structures arranged along a length of the adaptive input row.

8. The laptop computer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processing unit positioned within the housing; and

wherein the primary display is configured to display a graphical-user interface generated by the processing unit.

9. The laptop computer of claim 1 , wherein the touch input device comprises a track pad having a selection button.

10. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion, the lower portion having an opening;

a primary display coupled to the upper portion of the housing;

a set of alpha-numeric keys coupled to the lower portion of the housing; and

an adaptive input row positioned at least partially within the opening of the lower portion of the housing and adjacent to the set of alpha-numeric keys and comprising:

a cover;

a gap formed between an edge of the opening of the lower portion of the housing and the cover;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover, wherein:

the display is configured to display a first set of indicia when the adaptive input row is operated in a first input mode;

output from the sensor is interpreted as a first set of commands when the adaptive input row is in the first input mode;

the display is configured to display a second set of indicia when the adaptive input row is operated in a second input mode; and

output from the sensor is interpreted as a second set of commands when in the second input mode.

11. The laptop computer of claim 10 , wherein the adaptive input row includes a touch-sensitive region that extends beyond a display region illuminated by the display.

12. The laptop computer of claim 11 , wherein, in response to the touch being located within the touch-sensitive region, the adaptive input row is operable to change the display from the first set of indicia to a third set of indicia.

13. The laptop computer of claim 10 , wherein:

a set of programmably defined regions is defined along a length of the adaptive input row; and

the first and second set of indicia are displayed over the set of programmably defined regions.

14. The laptop computer of claim 10 , wherein the first set of indicia includes an animated indicium that is responsive to the touch on the cover.

15. The laptop computer of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is configured to differentiate between:

a touch gesture input in which the touch is moved across at least a portion of the cover;

a forceful touch input in which the touch exerts a force that exceeds a threshold; or

a multi-touch input in which multiple touches contact the cover.

16. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion;

a primary display positioned within the upper portion of the housing;

a keyboard having a set of keys positioned within the lower portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned within the lower portion of the housing and along a side of the set of keys, the adaptive input row comprising:

a cover forming a portion of an exterior surface of the laptop computer, wherein a gap is formed laterally between an edge of the cover and the lower portion of the housing;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a touch within a programmably defined region on the cover.

17. The laptop computer of claim 16 , wherein:

the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor formed from an array of capacitive nodes; and

the programmably defined region includes a touch-sensitive area detectable by multiple capacitive nodes.

18. The laptop computer of claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises two or more force-sensitive structures configured to detect a location of the touch along a length of the cover and a force of the touch.

19. The laptop computer of claim 16 , wherein:

the sensor comprises a force-sensitive structure that is disposed about a perimeter of the display; and

the force-sensitive structure comprises:

an upper capacitive electrode;

a lower capacitive electrode; and

a compressible layer positioned between the upper and lower capacitive electrodes.

20. The laptop computer of claim 19 , wherein the force-sensitive structure forms a protective seal around the display.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a primary display positioned within a first portion of the housing;

a keyboard having a set of keys positioned within a second portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned within the second portion of the housing and along a side of the set of keys and comprising:

a cover forming a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a touch within a programmably defined region on the cover;

a flexible conduit operatively coupled to the display and the sensor, the flexible conduit passing through an opening in the housing located proximate to an end of the adaptive input row;

a gasket positioned about the flexible conduit to form a seal between the flexible conduit and the opening.