Google recently introduced a feature called Fingerprint Scanner Gestures that allows Google Pixel Owners to perform operations such as displaying notifications by brushing the fingerprint scanner in a certain direction as an example.
It turns out Microsoft has been working on a similar feature. In a patent application filed June 2015 called “Biometric Gestures” Microsoft explains:
In one or more implementations, a computing device includes a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint touch sensor, that is configured to detect gesture input. When gesture input is received from a user, the biometric sensor detects biometric characteristics (e.g., a fingerprint) of the user and determines a gesture (e.g., a tap, touch and hold, or swipe) based on the gesture input. The user is authenticated if the biometric characteristics correspond to an authorized user of the device. If the user is authenticated, the device transitions to an authenticated user state that is associated with the type of gesture, such as by displaying personal information on a lockscreen of the computing device or opening a quick action center.
Microsoft postulates 3 gestures, all starting from the device being locked. One would be a simply tap, the second tap and rest or tap and hold, and the third tap and swipe which would all result in different actions, such as simply unlocking the device, displaying notifications or showing appointments etc.
The features available at this time are already on other platforms and therefore can be viewed on Windows as overdue 10 moves, so it’s not very interesting. Graphically, however, suggests another Microsoft patented technology that is displayed or displayed throughout the reader of the fingerprint. Fingerprint gestures certainly do not need to display a fingerprint reader, as Google’s pixels clearly illustrate, but its attention to the above figure clearly shows the gesture on the screen, not the device’s border. While the Fingerprint Gesture itself may not be very exciting, combining the idea of displaying the entire Fingerprint Reader gets a lot more interesting.
