HP has received a patent on technology that blocks cameras from taking unwanted pictures. The system requires two parts: a remote control, and a module in the camera.
People use the special remote control to send out a privacy signal. Cameras with the privacy module then take fuzzy pictures. The patent claims HP's technology is able to identify the persons requesting privacy, and only makes their image fuzzy.
The patent says the technology was developed so that camera banning would have not have to take place in sensitive areas, such as public change rooms. I dunno: banning cameras makes a lot more sense to me than adding V-Chip-like technology. HP sez it has no plan to implement the technology -- yet.
Another reason to hang onto your old 35mm SLR and keep a few rolls of film in the fridge.
On the slash.dot discussion group, at least one participant thought that HP might have patented the idea so that no one could implement it.
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