On Sun, Dec 27, 2020 at 10:20:04AM -0500, Hendrik Boom wrote:
> My touchpad is absurdly sensitive, and I keep brushing against it by accident.
> I don't feel the touch at all, but the computer sure does.
> It can hapen while I'm typing and suddenly my text edit turns into a
> shell command in a newsly chosen window.
> I suspect even a few beard hairs can activate it.
> the mouse fails (usually low battery) an then I do want the touchpad.
>
> Is there any way to disable the touchpad normally, but to reactivate it
> easily when the mouse fails?

If it is an synaptics touchpad then it is highly configurable and you
should be able to fine tune it to do exactly what you want.

But just
/usr/bin/syndaemon -i 1 -d -k
may be all you need to avoid problems when typing.

dpkg -L xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

will reveal several relevant tools.

I don't know if other types of touchpad have similar tools. Probably.

ael