Device disabling digital camera

Researchers have created a prototype device that disables digital cameras. In the future, this type of device may prevent theft from a certain distance and even theft of the film.

Researchers with prototype machines can disable the camera. Photo: LiveScience

Technology can also stop surveillance in a building or prevent theft of movies in cinemas.

The device uses sensors, projectors, a projector and a computer to scan, search and disable the camera. It will look for the reflection coefficients and the shape of the image sensors attached to those digital cameras. Future prototypes can even operate at infrared wavelengths that the naked eye can not see, so the device will not be exposed.

" Right now we have developed prototypes that can lead to narrower market products ," said project leader Gregory Abowd from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Digital cameras often use a CCD reflector - which reflects light back to the object instead of scattering it. This makes it easy to spot. Once the CCD has been found, the inverter disables the camera's white light beam, causing the camera to be unable to record.

At present, film theft technology is losing billions of dollars every year to the movie industry. " The biggest problem is that the device does not pick up the wrong digital camera with a huge earring ," said team member Jay Summet.

T. An