Don't Take My Picture
from the greased-lens dept
Some Georgia Tech researchers have come up with some technology that detects the presence of digital cameras then shoots a targeted beam of light at them to prevent them taking any legible photos. The device works by sensing infrared light reflected back from the coating on camera lenses, then sends the focused beam directed at the camera. But rather than mentioning anything useful for the technology (like, say, putting it in credit cards to foil those pesky cameraphone identity thieves), CNet focuses on how it could be used to stop video piracy -- because, clearly, there's not enough of that technology already. Should it ever be commercialized, this system will be a godsend to those companies that are scared of cameraphones. While it will make them feel safer, it's pretty difficult to see how the supposed benefits of camera jamming could outweigh its negative effects.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
don't take my picture
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: don't take my picture
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Stopping camera's will only hurt us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Camera Phone Jamming
All those weirdo porn sites will have to find something better to do.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Stopping camera's will only hurt us.
This CRE technology seems like it'd be best for an environment where disabling it would arouse suspicion. If a drug dealer sets one up to block police surveillance, all the police need is a sharpshooter to disable it. After all, what is the drugdealer going to do? Call the police?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Stopping camera's will only hurt us.
Seems like this would be foiled pretty easily anyway. How hard could it be to overwhelm such a system with false postives?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Stopping camera's will only hurt us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: don't take my picture
technology for prevention of movie piracy. I
studied this approach about five years ago. An
idea that was a couple of years too late for me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]