Apple Plans To Bach-Block Your Live Event Recording

Your opinion on the pro/con smartphone camera use inside the venue argument may become moot if one or more of Apple’s recently granted patents makes its way into iPhones in the near future. In a nutshell, the patents detail the ability for the phone to receive infrared signal that will effectively disable or otherwise prevent the camera from functioning.

Adaptistration People 195Unauthorized recordings have long been a hot topic going back to the days of portable audio recorders but as Smartphone cameras continue to reach new levels of quality and user friendliness, performing arts organizations and presenters have been increasingly uneasy over whether or not to embrace the trend.

PatentlyApple.com published an article on 6/28/2016 with details on the patents along with some fascinating details about how providers like Apple plan to go so far as to allow the video recorder to work inside a venue but automatically shut down when the camera is pointed at the stage (think light differentials).

If the discussion weren’t complex enough, Apple also proposes using the technology in a way that an arts organization, such as a museum, could prevent patrons from taking photos/videos of the art while simultaneously encouraging Smartphone camera use. This would be accomplished by using the camera’s screen to display information about the subject while simultaneously deactivating the ability to capture footage when the infrared signals and image recognition algorithms hook up.

blocking and enhancingIf nothing else, arts organizations won’t have to worry about potentially alienating patrons if the technology becomes part of standard functionality across all major providers.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

Related Posts

  • Not unlike many across the country, I became absorbed with current events yesterday so today's original topic will have to wait. It's been an…

    Adaptistration People 143
  • Whether you're home all day enjoying the holiday with family and friends or your orchestra is putting on a performance today, try to take…

    Adaptistration People 118
  • Whether you're home all day enjoying the holiday with family and friends or your orchestra is putting on a performance today, try to take…

    Adaptistration People 118

1 thought on “Apple Plans To Bach-Block Your Live Event Recording”

Leave a Reply to Mark Cancel reply