Apple Attempting To Patent IR Receiver For Device That Could Enable (Or Disable) Features

Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He has written for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts he’d like you to read: The Dangers of Externalizing Knowledge | Generation i | Surveillant Society | Choose Two | Frame Wars | The User’s Manifesto | Our Great Sin His personal website is coldewey.cc. → Learn More

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011


Given that many of the patents filed by Apple never end up in products and are merely exploratory or the result of internal research, I won’t dwell too long on this one. But it is a bit freaky to think that your phone could see something in the background and go “Whoops, better turn off. I’m not allowed here!”

More info at Patently Apple.