The tiny area indicated with an arrow here is actually the switch for turning off the touch pad. Tapping here switches the touch pad off, after which, a dim amber light glows to let you know.
A tiny dot in the upper right corner is actually a sensor for switching the touch pad off. Double-tapping brings up an onscreen indicator that tells you the touch pad is disabled, and the tiny dot on the pad lights up with an amber glow. It's a handy feature, but if you're using the laptop in a bright room, the indicator light is easy to miss, and it might lead novice users to wonder why the pad suddenly stopped working.