We're talking about the soft-touch lid, yes, but also the smooth, glassy trackpad and textured, leather-inspired palm rest.

ENGADGET: blogger-avatar

The engine constantly throttles up and down, not only to counter the drag on the satellite from residual air molecules in near space but also to smooth the flight of the vehicle to minimise the noise in the gravity measurements.

BBC: Goce gravity mapper surfs atmosphere

But the commission also emphasised that economic growth is needed to smooth transition, and that business and government should agree on new measures.

ECONOMIST: Black empowerment in South Africa

They may serve a vital oversight role, but they also impose costs of trust management and may hinder the smooth administration of a trust.

FORBES: Trust Protectors: Coming Out of the Woodwork

There, Schmidt, the socially challenged and romantically frustrated nerd, and Jenko, the smooth-operating but knuckleheaded jock, try to solve the case while also trying to break out of their confining self-images.

NEWYORKER: 21 Jump Street

Financial liberalisation is supposed to help households to borrow in bad times and so smooth out consumption, but again it is a two-edged sword: it also makes it easier for firms and households to take on too much debt during booms, which may exacerbate subsequent downturns.

ECONOMIST: The unfinished recession

Dr David Rosser said she was also able to communicate by writing notes, but added that there were still some concerns about her smooth recovery.

BBC: Malala Yousafzai: Pakistan girl 'standing with help'

It is also narrow enough to squeeze through doorways, but can lift 135kg with its hydraulic arms in a single smooth movement, to avoid causing pain to wounded soldiers.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Bear robot rescues wounded troops