Apple Look to Shut Down your iPhone’s Camera at Concerts

Many concerts prohibit attendees from taking video footage or photos. However smart phones have become increasingly sophisticated, making it hard for these rules to be enforced by event security. However reportedly Apple is developing software which would shut cameras off at concerts.

On June 2 a patent was published that would utilize infrared receivers that would shut down the camera on your phone when opened at a live show. The image-processing system would determine whether or not images picked up by the camera included infrared signals containing encoded data. If so the camera would become inactive. However other phone apps would still function.

The way this would work is infrared transmitters could be placed next to a stage. Then when cameras were pointed at a stage in order to take a video or photograph, the infrared transmitter would communicate with the camera, instructing it to disable its capabilities to capture. People could also be prevented from recording at movie theaters.

The software in some cases would still allow videos or photos to be captured. However a watermark would be applied to the protected media.

The patent could be used in other situations as well, including museums where photographing exhibits is banned. The technology could use infrared signals to block the ability of an iPhone to take pictures. Additional information could also be provided about a sculpture or painting. Retail could use it to provide information on particular items such as location in store, availability and price.