Apple has recently got a patent for a system that allows to disable iPhone cameras with infrared signals.

This technology can be used to stop smartphone photography at concerts and other events. If the smartphone has been designed to respond to certain infrared signals, it can turn off camera once triggered.

An illustration in the patent shows that when your camera is disable the smartphone will show the “Recording Disabled” message on screen.

apple-patent

Customers won’t be happy:

Technology experts think that this new technology can frustrate customers and can presumably be used illegally.

However another illustration suggests that the same infrared signals might be able transmit data and information to the phone. Let’s say if you’re in a museum and the infrared trigger can give information on mobile screen about certain artifacts.

Apple hasn’t confirmed if they are going to implement this technology in iPhones and other devices but with the patent in hand they can actually do it anytime.