Microsoft Patents the Censoring of Speech 192
theodp writes "On Tuesday, the USPTO awarded Microsoft a patent for the Automatic Censorship of Audio Data for Broadcast, an invention that addresses 'producing censored speech that has been altered so that undesired words or phrases are either unintelligible or inaudible.' The patent describes methods for muting offensive words and replacing them with less offensive versions, and 'a third alternative provides for overwriting the undesired word with a masking sound, i.e., "bleeping" the undesired word with a tone.' After all, there's nothing worse than being subjected to offensive speech when you're shooting someone in the head."
I'm intrigued. (Score:3, Interesting)
Naturally, I didn't read the article, but I have to say I'm intrigued by this. It would come in extremely handy for radio stations if they no longer needed to have a delay on their live broadcasts. It would especially benefit college radio stations because they often have to limit what they can allow on air since they cannot afford the equipment that is required to have a delay. Although this technology might be very expensive as well, so who knows. I guess I ought to swallow my pride and read the article!
Re:Useless (Score:5, Interesting)
Pondering this make me feel a whole lot better about the whole enterprise. I'm all in favor of protecting budding young minds from the use of profanity as a substitute for creative expression... by teaching them that profanity is the inspiration for expressing yourself creatively. Also I like the thought of someone going to their manager and saying, "I need a ruling on 'defecating masonry'. Can we let that go?"
Harry Enfield... (Score:4, Interesting)
Reminds me of this clip from Harry Enfield:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmRTUNh1vPo [youtube.com]
[For those hard of flashing, it's a parody of a short gangster conversation in which the bad words have been taped over with better words]
Re:How original (Score:3, Interesting)
How fun. This as already ben done in spain for some organization alike the RIAA called SGAE [escolar.net].
note: humm... Linux is betwen moron and fucking here. I will make it bold.
Here is the code:
palabras="mafiosos, ladrones, hijos de puta, hijo putas, chorizos, chupopteros, chupópteros, sangrantes, sangrais, sangráis, gilipoyas, por el culo, joderos, que os jodan, chaqueteros, mierda, agilipollao, alamierda, bujarra, bujarrilla, bujarron, bujarrón, cabron, cabrón, cabrona, cabronas, cabroncete, cabrones, cago en, cagoen, calentorra, calentorro, capulla, capullas, cazurra, cazurro, cenutrio, ceporra, ceporro, chingar, chocho, cipote, cipoton, cipotón, cojon, cojón, cojones, cojonudo, coño, cretino, cuesco, encular, estupida, estupido, folla, follada, folladas, follado, folladoras, folladores, follados, follamos, follando, follao, follar, follarse, follo, gilipolla, gilipollas, gilipuertas, hijadeputa, hijaputa, hijasdeputa, hijasputa, hijodeputa, hijoputa, hijoputa, hijoputas, hijosdeputa, hijosputa, hostia, idiota, idiotas, imbecil, imbécil, jilipolla, jilipollas, jilipuertas, joder, joderos, jodete, jódete, jodida, jodidas, jodido, jodidos, jodienda, linux, mamon, mamón, mamones, marica, maricas, maricon, maricona, mariconas, mariconazo, maricones, mentecata, mentecato, moña, ostia, pendeja, pendejo, picha, polla, pollas, porro, pringado, pringao, puta, putas, puto, putos, ramera, subnormal, subnormales, tarugo, tortillera, truño, zangana, zopenco, zurullo,";
function pasapalabra(cadena){
cadena=cadena.toLowerCase();
arPal=palabras.split(',');
i=0;encontrada=false;
while(i if(cadena.indexOf(arPal[i])!=-1){
encontrada=true;
document.formito.initialState.value=257;
}
i++;
}
}
Re:Useless (Score:1, Interesting)
I dont think you catch what he is saying. There is a difference between the use of profanity as "creative expression" and as surprised expression.
For example, the use of the word "fuck" as an adjective on every other word in a sentance is plain stupid. If you cant think of any other word to more adequately describe what you're talking about then you are a moron. However, saying the same thing because you were caught off guard and as an expression of surprise is entirely different (not that I personally do so myself).
The issue is with people, kids or adults, thinking that just slapping a 4 letter word on as a pointless adjective makes them mature and cool, and that being the extent of their ability to express themselves. Bottom line, if you going to do it, then do it right at least.
Re:Great news! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Useless (Score:1, Interesting)
True the lack of swearing doesnt always ensure maturity, but the over usage of swearing displays a distinct lack of it.
Obvious to an expert (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:I'm sceptical (Score:4, Interesting)
I actually don't have a big problem with people saying fuck or using other expletives. To me there's a use for expletives. For example, if you were walking about and minding your own business, then some vehicle veered off the road and took your arm off. Now that's a perfectly valid time to say fuck or whatever.
I just find it silly when people use it as punctuation. It's like reviewers giving 100% or 0% ratings in all of their reviews. Amusing for a few seconds at most.