Tech

This new technology will lock your phone at concerts

by Tyler Munro

If you’re one of those people who gets irrationally mad when someone pulls out their phone at a show, you’re in luck. A new technology that locks cellphones is picking up steam thanks to a push from comedian Dave Chappelle.

The Yondr case locks once you put your phone in it, and if fans want to see Chappelle at any of his 13 upcoming sold out shows, they’ll have to agree to use one. The cases are area-activated, meaning artists like Chappelle can use them to create “phone free” zones at their shows. Need to make a call? Desperate to check your Tinder? Curious how your #tbt is doing on Instagram? If Yondr takes off, you’ll have to step outside of the venue to do it. See a quick explanation below:

Founder Graham Dugoni told SF Weekly back in 2014 that the goal “isn’t to be the Gestapo.”

“Technology is fine but in certain contexts, it erodes the experience,” he said.

We aren’t sure we agree, but this is an interesting stopgap for artists who are so bothered by texting show-goers that they’ll do things as drastic as stop the show to call them out.

So, would you use one?