Human interface device

1. A system, comprising:

a memory;

a processor operatively coupled to the memory;

a keyboard having a demarcated area and a plurality of discrete keys disposed along a planar surface of the keyboard, the plurality of discrete keys being configured to receive user input, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of discrete keys overlap the demarcated area; and

a first sensing layer disposed underneath the keyboard and operatively coupled to the processor, the first sensing layer being configured to sense force applied to the keyboard,

wherein the processor is configured to:

identify a first force input from the first sensing layer that corresponds to one of the plurality of discrete keys, and

identify, from the first sensing layer, a second force input applied to the demarcated area that corresponds to a first function.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys are defined by a discrete marking on the planar surface of the keyboard.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein first function includes a mouse function.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys are fixed relative to the planar surface of the keyboard.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete keys comprises a first key, wherein the first sensing layer comprises a first sensing element, wherein the first sensing element is configured to detect force on the first key.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify an alphanumeric character that corresponds to the first key based on receiving the first force input from the first sensing element.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first force input corresponds to a typing mode, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the first function based on receiving the second force input from the first sensing element.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first sensing layer comprises a first interstitial sensing element that is disposed between at least two of the plurality of discrete keys, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the first function based on receiving the second force input from the first sensing element and a third force input from the first interstitial sensing element.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a second sensing layer disposed below the keyboard and the first sensing layer, the second sensing layer comprising a second sensing element that is substantially aligned with the first sensing element and the first key such that the second sensing element is configured to identify force applied to the first key, wherein the processor is configured to identify the alphanumeric character that corresponds to the first key based on receiving the first force input from the first sensing element and a fourth force input from the second sensing element.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a second sensing layer disposed below the keyboard and the first sensing layer, the second sensing layer comprising a second interstitial sensing element that is disposed between at least two of the plurality of discrete keys, wherein the second interstitial sensing element does not overlap with any of the plurality of discrete keys, wherein the processor is configured to identify the first function based on receiving the first force input from a first sensing element and a fifth force input from the second interstitial sensing element.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine various functions based on different force levels detected by the first sensing layer.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises at least one of a press or a touch gesture.

13. A method, comprising:

identifying a first force input from a sensing layer of a keyboard in response to a user input on a surface of the keyboard, the keyboard having a demarcated area and a plurality of discrete keys disposed along the surface of the keyboard, wherein the sensing layer is disposed below the surface of the keyboard;

determining a first function based on the first force input;

causing the first function to be executed on a display of a client device;

identifying, from the sensing layer, a second force input applied to the demarcated area;

determining a second function that corresponds to the second force input; and

causing the second function to be executed on at the client device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first function pertains to the presentation of an alphanumeric character on the display of the client device, wherein causing the first function to be executed on the display of a client device comprises causing the alphanumeric character to be presented on the display of the client device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second function pertains to a mouse function, wherein causing the second function to be executed at the client device comprises causing the client device to perform the mouse function.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mouse function includes at least one of: a vertical scroll, a horizontal scroll, a click, or a click-and-drag.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

identifying a third force input from the sensing layer of a keyboard in response to the user input on the surface of the keyboard, wherein the user input is simultaneously applied as the first force input and the third force input;

determining a third function based on the first force input and the third force input; and

causing the third function to be executed at the client device.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving a configuration request to set the demarcated area on the keyboard.

19. A system, comprising:

a memory;

a processor operatively coupled to the memory;

a surface having a demarcated area and a plurality of discrete areas disposed on the surface, the plurality of discrete areas each being configured to receive user input, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of discrete areas overlap the demarcated area; and

a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface and operatively coupled to the processor, the sensing layer being configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input,

wherein the processor is configured to:

identify a first force input from the sensing layer that corresponds to a first function, and

identify, from the sensing layer, a second force input applied to the demarcated area that corresponds to a second function.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein in the first force input and the second are associated with a first area of the plurality of discrete areas, wherein the first force input is larger in magnitude than the second force input.