According to a patent filling by Apple, next generation iPhone cameras could feature special infrared technology in them that would enable them not to allow users to take photos or record videos at places where it is illegal to do that. This feature could be very useful for music and movie industries who could disable iPhone cameras at concerts and other occasions where they do not want attendees to take photos or record videos.
This feature would also allow iOS devices to turn themselves into automated tour guides for museums and other similar places and also act as auto retail clerk by providing product details to users. And of course there are other countless uses of this kind of technology too.
Here’s how it would work
A transmitter could be located adjacent to a museum exhibit and its infrared signal could include encoded data that represents information about the exhibit. In some embodiments, the infrared signal could include encoded data that represents a command. For example, the transmitter could be located in an area where photography is prohibited and the infrared signal could include encoded data that represents a command to disable recording functions.
Read about this patent application in full here