Microsoft patents real-time audio obscenity mask

We can call it the real-time audio obscenity mask, or we can call it the autobleep, the cursekiller, whatever. The point is Microsoft's patented a unique system for bleeping out (actually just munging or silencing) combinations of phonemes it identifies as obscenities in audio streams without making use of time shifting, or otherwise requiring manual human intervention to make sure the FCC doesn't stick  them with some harsh fines. Would this theoretical system be able tell the difference between the real f-bomb and funk, or even homonym swears like those synonyms for a donkey and female dog? You know the ones. Tell you what, let's put it to work on a satellite radio hip-hop station or an old George Carlin record and see how we do.

[Via Ars Technica]

[Patrick Tomas @ May 7th 2006 3:24AM]

haha thats kinda cool :o

[snac @ May 7th 2006 3:38AM]

this society is too precious. bring on the world for adults, not kids.

[Revrant @ May 7th 2006 4:01AM]

Gasp, Microsoft makes something that might have serious flaws in design and execution, headlines!

'Props on Pryor though, that's the kind of style I like, instead of the trendy non-conformist crap.

[Intrepid @ May 7th 2006 5:14AM]

Well I think it is a good idea, parents no longer sensor what their children listen to and watch, so someone has to do it - it's not like it'll be forced onto adults!

[Revrant @ May 7th 2006 6:14AM]

Yeah, yeah it will, it has been for years, going on the grand assumption that Children, somewhere, are *always* watching.

[Ale @ May 7th 2006 6:44AM]

Yes yes more people need to be sheltered from reality, especially children. Nevermind that they here far worse language at school or see more violence on the news than on their video games.

GTA is directly responsible for every crime commited by someone under the age of 18.

Do you know their is a direct correlation between the fall of spirograph and the rise in gang activity? Think about it...

[Si @ May 7th 2006 7:00AM]

No, no, you've got it all wrong... they HAD to invent this just to make working with Steve Balmer possible.

[Intrepid @ May 7th 2006 9:11AM]

"just to make working with Steve Balmer possible."

Good point Si, but I don't know if it'l help with his violent actions.
As for Ale (and those whom agree) - although no-one attacked GTA, it is part of the problem that todays parents faced. When you and I were kids it was hard to see blood on TV, when our parents were kids there was a "Bang" or "Smash" on screen instead of todays imagery.
Think logically for a minute, are todays kids better social beings than those of 20yrs ago? The answer is a resounding no.

[Dan @ May 7th 2006 9:43AM]

"Think logically for a minute, are todays kids better social beings than those of 20yrs ago? The answer is a resounding no."

Are you serious? Society has continued to get better and better with every generation.

40 years there was no blood on TV, or GTA, but were they better people? No, they made blacks drink from a different water fountain and sit in the back of the bus.

Swearing on TV, nudity, violence, blood, etc, do not harm society in the very least.

[MrGreen @ May 7th 2006 10:08AM]

Um, did no one realize that this is most likely going to be used in Xbox Live!? It's great news for sure.

But then again, since they have patented it, does that mean if Nintendo or Sony want to implement similar technology into their ingame voice chat that they would have to license it from Microsoft? And perhaps Microsoft would refuse?

Interesting ramifications...

[Korey @ May 7th 2006 10:09AM]

WOW Microsoft officialy is GAY is it just me who is sick of censorship i mean the 1st ammendment officialy doesnt mean sh*t anymore this is dumb

[MrGreen @ May 7th 2006 10:27AM]

Korey, don't worry you're still free to say whatever you want on Xbox Live! it's just that I reserve the right to check off a little box that says "profanity filter" or whatever they decide. The best situation would be able to filter certain words that you choose, and to be able to set different filter levels for friends and strangers. Taking sh!t with your friends is one thing, but being verbally assaulted by 13 year old racists/homophobes is another.

And if they do stick this in DVD players or whatever, I'm sure it won't be any more "secure" than parental controls, so don't get too upset over that.

[Trauts @ May 7th 2006 12:54PM]

Supposing this is implemented in XBox live... I might just sign up. It's rediculous how often people spam the voice chat with swearing... it's like 90% of the gamers there have turrets or something.

[Atanas Boev @ May 7th 2006 1:12PM]

ssssheeeeeet :)

[mcdefjef @ May 7th 2006 1:35PM]

That's NOT A PATENT!

They have invented something and they've APPLIED for a patent. Nothing more. In time (a few years) the USPTO may or may not grant them a patent.

[craig @ May 7th 2006 1:51PM]

I wonder if the word "Apple" , "Cisco" , or maybe even "EU" are blocked by this obscenity tech by MS?

[jcg @ May 7th 2006 2:28PM]

@Korey, you still have the freedom of speech, but the freedom to swear is gone. Not really a great loss if you ask me. Maybe now I can get insulted in a semi-intellegent way :D. This could mean that Xbox live players need to learn decent english, otherwise the other player only hear *BEEP*

[Flip @ May 7th 2006 2:35PM]

Intrepid, Dan has some valid points. Society isn't going completely down because of video games and tv violence. However, saying it does "not harm society in the very least" is a pretty bold statement. The whole motley crew of desensitization has, does, and will make a few kids go a little nuts. But nothing to tear society apart.

That all aside, who the heck wants some fricking censor watching over their gosh darn backs all the time. If there's a chance for kids to hear naughty words, let the parents BE parents and stand between their kids and the real, dark, dirty world. Stop the cyber nannys.

[Adam @ May 7th 2006 3:40PM]

Can we just call it what it is - censorship. I barely trust Microsoft with my OS.....

[dustandechoes91 @ May 7th 2006 4:04PM]

i bet it would screw up with words like assasin, and names like my friends last name(asta) pronounced ass-tuh

[vinjaninja @ May 7th 2006 4:33PM]

Well, I dont think cussing is that great of a feat. This program should edit out the truely damaging words "You will never be sucessful in life, kill yourself." Or, "Your never going to get a boyfriend/girlfriend, ugly."

'Curse' words dont hurt people, pretentious grammar freaks hurt people.

[Aaron @ May 7th 2006 6:03PM]

It's cool how you join the stereotype against hip-hop, perhaps you could've said rap instead which would've made sence, or perhaps take it out on any other type of music since there are good and bad artists in all genres.

[Camperton @ May 7th 2006 11:50PM]

fucking assholes.

[Josh Einstein @ May 8th 2006 4:53AM]

That's ok. If South Park has taught us anything it's that beeps are usually funnier than the actual word anyway.

[eugene @ Sep 19th 2006 2:17AM]

what if you apply it with english profanity filters to other languages such as, maybe Vietnamese or Arabic?

[Samma728 @ Dec 31st 2006 1:03PM]

I don't know about this one...does blocking obscenity really help us as a society? I think children are shielded enough as it is, and this would just cause further shock to the child when they are in "reality" and see all of the things they were protected from for years. I mean, I can see this being used on small children and toddlers, but I think it would just damage the kid later when he/she's an adult.

[Nate @ Dec 31st 2006 1:19PM]

Well, I don't think they were the first to do this.

TVguardian (www.tvguardian.com) mutes the tv, then displays a caption with a substitute for the word or phrase.

They even have it built in to some dvd players like this- http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4810675