Apple files patent for camera hidden behind display

Apple files patent for camera hidden behind display

www.appleinsider.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

There's already a conspiracy floating around that every newly-produced monitor already has a computer hidden in it. This camera can be activated at any time by a remote. Personally, I don't believe it, but this patent makes me question it. We already have speakers in cell phones that can be activated, so why not cameras in monitors?

www.appleinsider.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I've wondered about my cable box already doing that. Someway or another, someone will be watching us even closer. Big brother is apparently too busy watching us instead of their own. (except for Blago)

Good grief.

Now, my computer will be watching me.

That's just a little disconcerting.

There was a rumor going around about the cable box being able to detect certain words. When those words are recorded, the cable box knows which commercials to play. I'm assuming this could be easily debunked with proper research, though.

reply to post by SonicInfinity

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Easily debunked just using common sense actually.

Not a one liner

Or a 2 liner ;-)

hehe my my what a great job someone has watching me pick my nose and scratch my balls, i wonder how many times i've blinked while reading this thread - i hope it's someone job to know.

Until they have a massive terminal able to watch all the videos and bring thought crimes to the attention of the robot guards i don't think we're in any danger of this deadly new conspiracy.

Here's a quick rule of thumb for you paranoid types, if you have a secret then keep it secret! The head of the isi does not use a macbook and presidents do not send important emails over blackberrys - everyone knows you can record and decode everything a blackbery sends if your a government sized computer lab, so don't send anything important. The same goes for standing in frount of your internet connected computer with the web cam plugged in and giving a detailed and incriminating description of your crimes.

If you worry about safety then use open source software and learn how it works, know what your computer is doing and never reveal your plan, no matter how well tied up bond is.

reply to post by NatureBoy

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Yeah, that's what I never understood about the camera theory. Who's going to be watching all those cameras all day? One can argue that everything is being recorded and stored later for possible future use, but who can organize all that stuff?

Are we suprised?. jsut think of how many satelites we have in space and the majority of them are staring down at us. Its times like this when living in a cave starts to look really atractive. there's a price to pay for all this technology and that is our brains becoming defunct.

reply to post by SonicInfinity

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One could conceivably develop some sort of software which can filter out certain desired information. From what I understand, the US govt. uses similar software when it eavesdrops on communications.

One could also deliberately choose to spy on certain individuals. Perhaps nobody is going to want to watch you or me when we sit in front of our computers and eat potato chips, but somebody may want to direct their attentions toward a criminal, a terrorist, a business competitor, or a political foe.

Wow this is just blowing my mind. My questions are 1. Is it possible to activate a computers camera or microphone from a remote area? but then I'd guess Yes that's quite probable, so 2. To what extant, how easy, and in what ways can this technology be applied?

Good thing I say. Finally you get video confrences where people actually seem to look in the right area and pay attention to what's being said.

It should still be visible as an attached device and as such it can be disabled simply by uninstalling the drivers. Even the most computer illiterate can manage that.

It's silly to think this is a conspiracy. Why go to the trouble of hiding a camera to watch you sit at your computer? What does that accomplish? If someone wants your info, they're going to hack your computer or go through your trash or tap your phones. And it'd probably be easier to just hack existing webcams with some sort of trojan if they wanted to actually see you sit there. Webcam hacking programs already exist, anyway.

Hmmmm... I understand that this is on a laptops and PC monitors, but it eerily reminds me of something...

Ever read the book 1984? (if not ,please do, I think it should be required reading for anyone on this site). In the book the government monitors everyone using cameras in the TVs...

Welcome to 1984 folks. There is a reason I have that as my avatar.
<--------------
Mr. Orwell you truly were a prophet. R.I.P

reply to post by calstorm

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Ain't that the truth.

First we got Newspeak i.e. Politically Correct
Then came increased surveillance...
Soon every TV will likely have these cameras and the ability to monitor us using them will go hand in hand.

There is nothing Orwellian about this. Now if someone had taken apart their laptop and found a hidden camera that was not mentioned in the specs, then you would have a leg to stand on, alas, you don't. These rumors of secret hidden cameras have been around since the 80s (like the cable box myth) and every single one of them has been debunked. Also, last I checked, computers, laptops and mobile phones were not mandatory, people choose to use them.

[edit on 2-12-2009 by fumanchu]

reply to post by fumanchu

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Just an FYI, the cameras in the TVs in 1984 were common knowledge to the characters in the book.

They knew they were there, and they knew they were being monitored... nothing they could do about it.

No need for secret cameras when you can convince the masses that the cameras are needed for other reasons.

reply to post by XTexan

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People want cameras so they can make faces at people in other countries, no one is forced to have a camera, nor is there any evidence what so ever that proves 1. people are being spied on or 2. they are there specifically to spy on people. There are a multitude of nefarious purposes for all sorts of things people use on a daily basis, doesn't mean that's what they are for, or that they are indeed being used as such. This is just paranoia talking. (not necessarily a bad thing)