The humble keyboard might get a touch-sensitive upgrade in the near future through the SpaceBar, a piece of Synaptics technology allowing OEMs to add "unique gesture features" to keyboard space bars.

The SpaceBar essentially turns the space bar into a touch-sensitive surface complete with customisable gesture controls, such as thumb swipes (for word selection) and touchscreen-style double-thumb pinch zooming. Also included are 5 "logical buttons" users can program via macro editor to provide further shortcuts for desktop functions or game controls.

It all sounds a bit like what Apple is doing with MacBook trackpads through Force Touch technology, if possibly even more interesting through the use of an often ignored keyboard component.

Synaptics says SpaceBar technology is available now for OEMs, and has already been adopted by Thermaltake's Tt eSPORTS gaming ccessory division.

Go Synaptics Brings New Functionality to PCs with SmartBar Technology