As computing devices shrink, Microsoft seems to think that a trackpoint, or “thumb mouse,” might be a good idea, especially if it hides a practical surprise: a fingerprint sensor that could be used to enable Windows Hello.
As noted by Windows Central, Microsoft recently filed a patent for a low-profile pointing device with an optional optical sensor beneath it which could be used for identification purposes and for navigation. There’s no guarantee that the patent will be approved, or that the trackpoint will ever ship within a Microsoft device; still, it’s an interesting idea that shows how Microsoft is imagining its hardware might evolve.
