OPINION
opinion
KANSAN.COM
KANSAN.COM/OPINION MONDAY, JULY 25, 2016
Clough: Apple's patent sets unnerving precedent
► MATTHEW CLOUGH
@mcloughsofly
At the end of June, Apple patented new technology that could block access to its products' cameras at certain events and locations. It would via a system of infrared signals that its phones would detect in certain places, causing the camera to power down.
Initially, I was completely put off by the proposal why should Apple get to regulate what I can and cannot capture with a product that I paid for, at a location or event that I may also have paid to enter? But according to reports, Apple envisions its technology as having practical uses, such as cutting down on piracy at concerts and movie theaters. The company also imagines the technology could allow users to access curated information in
museum settings when the camera is directed at specific works.
In theory, these are good uses. But I still wholeheartedly believe that no aspect of this technology is acceptable for the times in which we're living. Although Apple's intentions seem noble, I can't fathom why they're actually necessary or progressive.
As for the (admittedly beneficial) proposed uses, disallowing users access to their own devices feels like a betrayal. While I don't support piracy, I have trouble believing that most musicians or movie producers are truly suffering all that much from recorded clips of their material, given the continuously staggering figures their industries report. Personally, just because I can watch someone's second-rate video of a concert online doesn't mean I'm going to stop buying an artist's
music or not experience the concert myself.
Additionally, the proposed application for museums seems cool, although many venues already offer this sort of interaction via downloadable apps. Integrating technology into the experience of viewing art is fantastic, but Apple doesn't need to be involved if it means restrictions in other settings.
So necessary? Doubtful. And while the currently proposed functions of Apple's new technology aren't damaging beyond the outcry of some irked iPhone users, they do set a potentially dangerous precedent for surveillance and accessibility.
If this technology can eliminate camera use at concerts and theaters, why couldn't it work in other places, like government events or public protests? In an age so focused on
social justice and human rights, having the ability to fairly document public occurrences is vital.
Illustration by Jacob Benson
I don't buy into any farfetched conspiracies that Apple is out to control us or the inner workings of our society. Nor do I think the technology itself poses any sort of immediate
threat, although the principles behind it certainly might. Should the technology be manipulated or accessed by individuals with less-than-favorable intentions, we may be facing serious issues of access and freedom. For the time being, members of the public should retain their ability to
capture any moments they see fit.
Matthew Clough is a senior from Wichita studying English and journalism.
Liston: Funding loss puts Lawrence's culture at risk
▶ RYAN LISTON
@rliston235
Sculptures lining Mass Street, Art in the Park, the Free State Festival and more are all cornerstones of the artistic culture in Lawrence. People are drawn to these events to celebrate the creativity of local artists and innovators.
This artistic spirit may be stifled, however, as Kansas will miss out on nearly $800,000 worth of arts funding this year.
Kansas spent $191,000 on arts funding for this fiscal year. The state would have needed to spend about $250,000 more to meet a minimum set by the National Endowment for
the Arts and receive federal arts funding. Additionally, Kansas has been suspended from the Mid-America Arts Alliance, which provides grants to artists and art groups.
Art can benefit lives and communities. Without an artistic atmosphere, Lawrence would be a less appealing town,
and there would be less incentive for people to visit. Furthermore, if artists are unable to fund their projects in Kansas, they may take their talents elsewhere.
by the Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance, have suggested correlations between improved academic performance and involvement in fine arts.
Art improves students'attitudes towards school and helps break the monotony of a daily class schedule. Some studies, such as one conducted
Funding the arts should be a top priority for the state government. Art gives people a reason to visit Kansas, and our economy needs any tourism it can
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get. As a community, we must show our support for local artists by attending events that highlight their creativity and by calling for our representatives to include arts funding in the state budget.
Ryan Liston is a sophomore from Lawrence studying journalism.