The presence of
lighting in the design of the rug.
This function is found mainly in top-end gaming models (see "Type"). The backlight does not affect the main functionality of the product, its role is primarily decorative. Perhaps the only situation where a luminous mat can be useful from a practical point of view is when working at a computer in the dark, when even the light from the screen does not illuminate the mat.
The backlighting capabilities can be quite advanced: it can have different colours and even react to individual user actions — for example, change colour depending on the mouse sensitivity set (such capabilities are usually available with high-end mice from the same manufacturer). The backlight requires power to operate; it is usually provided via a USB cable.
The presence
of firmware around the perimeter of the rug. Such firmware prevents delamination of the material and makes the product more durable.