Microsoft Patents Self-Sterilizing Touch Screen

It is widely known that devices such as keyboards and computer mice are the least hygienic places in any household. As we are replacing keyboards with touch screens, those greasy screen surfaces could become prominent transfer stations for bacteria. A patent filed by Microsoft in April 2010 suggests that an ultraviolet (UV) light source could be used to sanitize touch screen surfaces. The UV light source would be integrated into a device and would be positioned with the backlight and kill germs from the rear side of the touch screen.

The patent envisions the technology to be used not only for personal computing devices, but especially devices that are exposed to different people, such as ATM screens at banks, checkout stations in grocery stores as well as kiosks at airports. The technology is designed to be used in combination with a proximity sensor that activates the UV light source when a user is not present - and emit UV light at a wavelength that is suited to sterilize the touch screen.

There was no information in which specific products the technology could become available.