It looks like Microsoft may have its sights set on your keyboard's Windows key for fingerprint sensors on future keyboards. That's according to a patent published on March 7 (via Windows United), which integrates a fingerprint sensor within the Windows key.
Currently, fingerprint sensors in laptops are mostly either integrated in power buttons or appear as discrete sensors on a laptop's body. Microsoft's patent would allow sensors to be combined with existing keys on the keyboard.
Windows Hello has been an integral part of Microsoft's vision for PCs, with the company setting its sights on eventually using the tech as part of a play to eliminate passwords altogether. A portion of that strategy involves infrared cameras that can be used for facial recognition, but fingerprint sensors are also an important avenue to achieve the same goal.
As with all patents, there's a chance this may never see the light of day. However, it's not hard to imagine a future Surface device with a dedicated fingerprint sensor included in the keyboard alongside Windows Hello facial recognition.
The 2-in-1 refined as only Microsoft can
The blueprint device for the 2-in-1 category, the Surface Pro 6 is a high-end laptop stuffed into the body of a tablet. Toss in digital pen support and an optional keyboard and you have quite the portable computer.
