Apple has won a patent to prevent the use of iPhones to take pictures or videos at live shows, concerts or gigs.
Though this might not be good news for concert goers, it would be a welcome relief for concert promoters and even the artists.
This technology would allow venues to use an infrared beam to disable photography on mobile phones, preventing people from taking videos and photos.
The diagram above illustrates how an iPhone would become temporarily disabled during a rock concert. It would require an infrared transmitter to be installed at shows.
When the infrared transmitters are switched on, the phone would simply display a “recording disabled” message when members of the audience try to take photographs or videos. Alternatively, a watermark or blur effect may be applied, to discourage people from sharing them.
It is not yet clear when Apple would want to introduce this feature or whether it would extend it to iPads.
