Microsoft is working on a technology that lets you pair a device with another by taking a picture of them

Picture a world where pairing electronic accessories with devices is as easy as taking a photo. It sounds futuristic, but this is precisely what Microsoft is thinking about. Their newest patent makes connecting things like styluses, headphones, and keyboards to computing devices easier.

This is how it works: you snap a photo of the accessory you want to link with your device; the device then recognizes and links with it. You no longer need to navigate complex settings or push small buttons on the accessory to initiate pairing.

This Microsoft technology is very useful, especially in places with many electronic devices you need to pair. Consider a packed office area and your attempt to connect the fresh stylus to your tablet. Instead of seeing every possible device that can be paired with that long list on your device, Microsoft wants to filter options based on what’s seen in the image you captured. This speeds up the pairing and decreases the possibility of mistakenly linking to another person’s device.

But if the device you’re trying to pair isn’t in the camera’s view, Microsoft says the device can still detect other accessories using traditional Bluetooth or RF signals. However, the one you captured in a picture is the priority during the pairing procedure. This makes it more convenient to choose from a list if necessary.

The system’s design allows it to understand the setting where an accessory is being used. If, for instance, you hold a stylus in your hand, then the system will deduce that soon enough, you will likely employ it and prioritize its pairing. The way you and your device can intuitively interact not only improves the user experience but also gives a glimpse into how technology will be in the future.

This technology is clever because it’s simple and works well: using image identification and intelligent filtering, Microsoft makes linking devices more easily. It becomes quicker, more natural, seamless, and without mistakes. For people who love technology or just like smart things, this patent could change how we use electronic accessories in a big way.

You can read the full paper here.

It’s worth mentioning that with all Microsoft patents (have you read the one that describes a technology that allows you to control your Windows devices using your tongue?), this one might never see the light of day in this form. But the Redmond-based tech giant could release it one way or the other.