Apple Potentially Adding "Theater Mode" Texting Feature to iPhone

A "leaker" who has released information on Apple products in the past is now reporting that the company is looking to update its phones with a potentially controversial feature. Sony Dickson (via Collider) alleges that an update that will be available in iOS 10.3 will have a "theater mode."

While no concrete details on the rumor have been leaked, an Apple patent from 2012 had a very similar concept. Here's a description...

"This policy enforcement capability is useful for a variety of reasons, including for example to disable noise and/or light emanating from wireless devices (such as at a movie theater), for preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices (such as in academic settings), and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter “sleep mode” when entering a sensitive area."

Provided this is the technology that's coming to the update, how do we feel about this? Personally, I don't think we need technology to further allow people to be disruptive during a movie. I also don't know how I feel about a mode for my phone that doesn't allow people to reach me for an event as trivial for a movie. What if there's an emergency I need to be contacted for?

I see good and bad in this product, but then, ultimately, can we really force anyone to use it? Do you think if a feature like this gets added people will adopt it and use it at a movie? I know we all have that one story of someone being a dick with their phone, but is it such a problem we need tech that allows us to use phones inside the theater? I'm really curious to hear your opinion.

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