A number of musicians, including Beyoncé, Neko Case, Björk, Jack White and many more have been asking fans to shut off their phones at live shows for years. But just asking fans may not be enough. Last week Apple was granted a patent on technology that would use infrared signals to forcibly disable cellphone cameras at specific locations, i.e. concert venues and theaters. Another company called Yondr is making pouches to hold and lock away people's phones during shows. You slip your phone in the pouch and it automatically locks shut when you enter a restricted area, unlocks when you leave.
While the debate over cellphone etiquette at concerts isn't new, we may not be far from a time when you no longer have a choice in the matter. But that doesn't mean we agree on the subject: If you follow Bob Boilen on Instagram, you know he takes and shares a lot of concert photos and videos, something a lot of concert-goers do, and something that, more often than not, makes me squirm.
Bob and I will talk more about this in an upcoming +1 podcast, and want to know what you think. Use the form below to weigh in. We'll include the results on our show.
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