At every concert I’ve been to for the past five years or so, there’s always been someone recording the moment rather than living in the moment.  I’m not innocent, either; I’ve taken pictures and videos of concerts, but I only take a few then I shut my brain off and enjoy myself.  However, not all artists like having their pictures taken, and some venues don’t allow photography. That’s been enforced by security, but Apple has a better way.  Apple has patented a way to remotely disable cell phone cameras.

So how does it work?  Via the magic of infrared technology, of course.  In a concert setting, if the cameras need to be put away, the signal tells the phone itself that the camera and video options need to be disabled.  The same technology can be used to add to live experiences too, such as beaming information about a museum exhibit to the phone.  No doubt there are other uses, but these are the two Apple based their 2011 patent application on.

Now, that patent has been granted. Will this lead to people, say, wrapping their phones in tin foil to prevent the waves from working?  I won’t say that I haven’t thought about just how to get around that block (without just bringing a digital camera along).  Of course, Apple hasn’t said that they planned on using the phone-blocking technology, but someone will.  Until then, I’ll be working on my Farraday cage.

Tags: apple, smartphone, smartphone patents, apple patents, new patent to disable smartphones, disabling smartphones using infrared technology, infrared technology, no phone zone, technology, patents, us patent and trademark office

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