Apple has figured out a way of stopping music lovers from filming or photographing gigs
Tech giant files patent which will make sure people enjoy what's in front of them, rather than trying to record it
APPLE has been awarded a patent which could stop iPhones from taking pictures and videos at concerts.
The tech giant is developing technology that would allow it to shut down mobiles using an infrared emitter that could be installed at venues.
It would mean that the iPhone is ‘temporarily disabled’ whilst everyone enjoys the performance.
Fans using their phones to film or take pictures has become a fact of life at concerts - but many people hate it.
They feel it is intruding on their enjoyment and the sea of screens is a distraction from their view of the performer.
The details of the device were revealed in a patent awarded on Tuesday in the US to Apple, which includes a drawing of a band on stage playing music to show how it works.
Above the musicians are transmitters which send out the infrared beams to mobiles in the audience.
The mobile in the image has the words: ‘Recording disabled’ on it.
The patent says: ‘An infrared emitter can be located in areas where picture or video capture is prohibited, and the emitter can generate infrared signals with encoded data that includes commands to disable the recording functions of devices.
‘An electronic device can then receive the infrared signals, decode the data and temporarily disable the device’s recording function based on the command’.
Another possible option in the patent is that pictures or recordings are obfuscated.
The patent says: ‘In some embodiments, a device may apply a watermark to detected images as an alternative to completely disabling a recording function.
‘For example, a device may receive infrared signals with encoded data that includes a command to apply a watermark to detected images. In such an example, the device may then apply the watermark to all detected images that are displayed or stored (e.g., single pictures or frames of a video)’.
Being able to block people from recording videos at concerts may be appealing to the 180 artists who recently signed a letter demanding that YouTube respect their copyright.
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Among those who have tried to take a stand against people using their phones at concerts has been Kate Bush.
Ahead of her comeback shows in 2014 - her first concerts since 1976, when mobiles were not around - she pleaded with her fans not to use the devices.
Miss Bush said she wanted the audience to ‘share the experience together’ but fans ignored her and dozens of videos popped up on YouTube.
Another controversial measure that Apple is reportedly considering is removing the headphone jack on the new iPhone.
The company will supposedly include wireless headphones so that the iPhone 7 can be even slimmer.
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