From tiny keyboards that learn your intentions to ones that fold in half to save space , the race is on to modify the humble computer keyboard , which has remained largely unchanged since it was invented . Now Google has been granted a patent that hints that the clunky piece of hardware could one day be replaced with not much at all . It suggests that using audio sensors that plug into a smartphone or tablet , any flat surface could be transformed into a virtual keyboard . Just like magic : Google has been granted a patent ( image shown ) that suggests that using audio sensors that plug into a smartphone or tablet , any flat surface could be transformed into a virtual keyboard . The design would make it far easier to type on devices with smaller touchscreens , which are currently dominated by pop-up keyboards . The patent suggests that a user would tap on a surface just as if they were typing on a regular keyboard . The audio sensors would decipher vibrations made by tapping to work out which ‘ keys ’ a user is pressing and the corresponding letters would appear on a screen , like normal , Quartz reported . The patent hints that the Google is one of many thinking about ways to revolutionise large piece of hardware , which have outgrown portable devices such as tablets and phones . A Samsung patent ( pictured ) shows a system that could turn a user ’ s hand into a keyboard . Developers have created a keyboard cover that turns every key of the board into one emoji . Once installed , the Caps Lock key lets users switch between regular and emoji keys meaning people can easily add images to Facebook posts , tweets and even official documents . Developers have made a keyboard cover that turns every key into one emoji ( shown ) The Emoji Keyboard and its custom software were developed by a team of designers at California-based Disk Cactus . Each of the covers are made of silicone and act like standard covers to block out dust , dirt and liquid . More than 150 emoji are accessible directly from the keyboard but using the Shift , Control , and Option keys gives access to related characters . It is available to pre-order from Kickstarter for just $ 15 ( £10 ) and , if funded , will ship in April . The design may have a few drawbacks however , as it could make typing tricky for people who can ’ t touch type and no cushioning when pressing ‘ keys ’ would mean that the process could become uncomfortable or even painful after a while . While the patent filing doesn ’ t mean that Google is working on the design , it hints that the firm is one of many thinking about ways to revolutionise the traditionally large piece of hardware , which has outgrown many portable devices such as tablets and phones . A patent filed by Samsung last March showed a wearable system that could turn a user ’ s hand into a keyboard . In the proposed system , people wearing a camera - on a Google Glass-style device dubbed Galaxy Glass - would be able to look down at their hands , which would be mapped using a virtual keyboard , and use their thumbs to select the keys , negating the need for a physical keyboard . The patent reads : ‘ Recently there is much interest in the wearable computers such as glasses-type terminal and wristwatch terminals . ‘ Such wearable computers are even more limited in space for mounting an input means such as button type keypad and touchscreen . ' The system involves a camera for capturing an image , a storage unit that stores the ‘ key to hand mapping table , ’ a display and a control unit . Numbers could be assigned to a forefinger , for example , while symbols could be assigned to the middle finger . Alternatively , letters could be plotted at various points across the fingers and palm from top to bottom . Users would then use their thumb to ‘ press ’ the various keys on both hands . The camera would capture the movement of the thumb , or identify the force pressed onto each finger , to establish which key had been pressed and type the message accordingly .
Patent suggests audio sensors could be plugged into a phone or tablet . Sensors could detect vibrations to work out which 'key ' is being pressed . System would transform any flat surface into a full size keyboard . Google is one of many firms working to revolutionise physical hardware .