Apple patents 'anti-sexting' technology... WTF!!!
 

Ok I've had just about enough of Steve Jobs attempts at controlling / censoring the entire planet! :mad:

Discuss!


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(CNN) -- Apple has patented technology that could be used by parents to prevent their kids from sending sexually explicit text messages -- or "sexting."
The technology, which has not been commercialized, would let a phone's administrator block an iPhone from sending or receiving texts with certain words.
Messages containing blocked material either would not be received or would have the objectionable content redacted. Unlike other text blockers, Apple's version would also be able to filter content based on a child's grade level and claims to filter abbreviated words that maybe missed by other programs.
The patent, awarded Tuesday, does not address the sending or receiving of explicit images.
The U.S. patent, which Apple filed for in January 2008, could also turn these filters into educational tools, according to the patent document.
Parents of kids who are studying Spanish, for example, could be required to send a certain number of messages per month in that language, according to the document. If kids did not meet the foreign language quota, their texting privileges could be automatically revoked until they send more Spanish-language text messages.
Grammarians may cheer this innovation. The texting interface also could prod kids towards better grammar, requiring them to identify and fix spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes before sending a message.
So maybe the Apple texting tool will be the end of LOL-speak.
Apple says old methods of monitoring and controlling text communications on phones have largely failed. Allowing kids to communicate only with a pre-set list of phone numbers or e-mail addresses is limiting, the patent document says, and does not address the content of the mobile phone communications, which Apple says is more important.
Other methods of filtering only block certain expletives, Apple says, instead of trying to recognize the overall offensiveness of a message and comparing that to a kid's age and learning level.
The blog TechCrunch asks if the patent will be the end of sexting:
"Yes and no," Alexia Tsotsis writes on that blog, "as those interesting in 'sexting' will probably find some clever workaround to express how much they want to bang, screw, hit it or a myriad of other words that don't immediately set off the censorship sensors."
The Daily Mail in the UK writes that this anti-sexting news "will be music to the ears of Tiger Woods. Or Ashley Cole, or Vernon Kay for that matter," referring to sexting scandals involving those celebrities.
It's unclear exactly how this technology would be incorporated into Apple's iPhone products, but it would appear to work through the phone's built-in text-messaging application. Other texting apps aim to prevent texting while driving and let iPhone users send text messages without incurring charges from AT&T, the mobile carrier that has exclusive rights to the iPhone in the U.S.
Do you think this kind of technology will bring about the end of sexting and SMS slang? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=T2

there goes brett favre's pussy pulling game.

It's all about enforcing your own ideals onto everyone else these days...

unless you're a Libertarian ;)

Extreme douchebaggery.

meh, they'll just use other words or short forms.

kids lives have been ruined by this. Whats so bad about stopping that?

Never any boring days in this business.

I don't understand the big fuss about this...
everyone keeps saying "parents need to control their kids" and here comes something that will enable them to do that and people still bitch....

There goes iPhone sales to that market.

Shareholders should be outraged.

"Chris, we got you an iPhone for Christmas!" "I specifically asked for a basic model phone. Thanks for ruining my life, Mom."

Exactly... stops absolutely nothing... You'd think such tech ppl would figure that out... On the other hand it's a great way to fleece the sheep out of some money since they won't know any better.

Very true.

1) If used by a parent OR a company supplying phones to employees I am all for it.

2) I am also for an option that parents can read all inbound and outbound texts to a kids cell phone on a web site too.

Good grief.

then the kids will just call eachother...

Exactly, or like others said, they'll just create new abbreviations... Like anyone see that post about the Japanese school girls selling sex via text messages? THAT was fucking alarming to me and the sequence of characters was pretty damned tricky.

It's like saying you can stop all hacking... magically, and patenting something to do so. There is ALWAYS a work around.

Ok, so they are going to block Sexting, but what is to prevent kids from emailing photos of themselves to each other? ...or using an Instant Messenger? ...or turning on their webcam? ...or doing a live video call on their iPhone?

EDIT: This is not even about photos??? Just explicit text messages? Oh, fuck me Apple has lost the plot.

Yea, that'll work like the censor on this board stopping nigg.....

"Hey, wanna have sax?" Censor isn't going to stop that without pissing off a lot of saxophone players. :P

Any technology designed to modify the behavior of a teen that does not deliver
high voltage shocks will fail.

:1orglaugh

(Disclaimer: High voltage shock will fail also as soon as the teens discover gloves)

Fuck :2 cents:

Perhaps that's the hidden brilliant marketing idea behind this... if Apple will develop a perfect way to block sexually explicit stuff then all parents around the world will not hesitate which phone/computer should they buy for their kids. Moreover, maybe also schools and other institutions at the entire world will not hesitate about the choice. Smart move you pitiful pathetic Apple.

Well that would cut my texts down to 0.

I remember steve jobs saying "We do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone ... Folks who want porn can buy an Android phone." i guess he wasnt kidding... another walled garden for us to play around does he not know the iPhone has a browser lol

Quote source = http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/04...d-iphone-porn/

Two observations (with all due respect):

1. I seem to recall that you are one of those that jumps at every toy Jobs puts out there, so suddenly becoming upset with him seems rather ironic.

2. If your kid was 12, 13, 14 . . . would your outrage be the same or would you be adding the app to their iPhone?

Stevie Jobs just needs to get laid, seriously.

pr move?

why should a kid have an iphone? christ, i could never imagine my parents giving me something that costs so much and is so not necessary. a simple 50 dollar phone, disable texting and you're done.

agree, some parents are just retarded. they want everyone to censor what their kid does yet they provide everything for them to do the wrong things.

Words aren't the biggest concern when it comes to kids with cellphones sexting, photos are.

By the time his kid is 13, I am sure the cost will be down substantially. If it was today's scenario I suspect he would because he could.

I may be wrong.

All our adult content is behind a credit card registrations process. And i am not saying thats the only way to do it but... surely its up to us all to make sure of this so that we are not forcing the hand of major companys like Apple to put up so many hurdles when given a device to work with like the iPhone. :2 cents:

So they've patented a simple blacklist feature. very innovative!
Man, some patents sure are crazy.

Steve Jobs needs to get laid and leave people alone

All this is going to do is make it so kids will not want an iPhone.

all of this entitlement mentality is just ruining any future the kids/this world has. what ever happened to earning something? even if i was a billionaire i wouldn't give my kids such things. anyways, thats not the subject at hand but i just find it funny that this is the issue and not questioning why kids need iphones. kids don't "need" texting and they don't need the internet on their phones. they are distracted and wasting their lives enough as it is with gagets. the only reason they even need a phone at all is so their parents can find them/they can get a hold of their parents. thats it.

Ok, the moral arrogance of Steve Jobs cannot be disputed, but it's not like he's forcing people to buy or use his products.

Vote with your dollars!

No matter what screen/device they come up with next we will put live cams on it... no matter what obsticles they put up


It even works on the iPad as well!!!

I'd venture to say that you have about as much idea how you would be as a billionaire as I do. Not much. :2 cents:

3) Any suspect text is sent to the parents email address with the info of the recipient.

Gives parents the chance to be parents. Same goes for surfing. We will be watching the sites our daughter goes to and want to see chat texts she's having. Not snooping, just taking the opportunity to guide her.

Don't delete or block. Inform the parents. :thumbsup

that's retarded, kids will by pass filters same way people bypass gfy's word filter.... and how is simple text search patent worthy anyway?

u serious? they will just bypass it using new words

i wanna fuck you will become > I w2fu
i miss you sucking my dick will become > i miss you skngmydk

etc.lol teenagers are creative

Precisely. But try telling that to your kid when half her class have them. The rule in her class is they switch off their phones before the lessons start.

She's 8 in 3rd grade. :eek2

Remember 1984... when we said we wouldn't be like 1984... yeah... whatever.

I dont see anything wrong with parents having control of their kids phones.

hahahaha

and the Idiocracy continues....

i have no beef with this. it's optional

Care to explain how this is "trying to control / censor the planet"? Would love to hear that explanation.

Windows 7 follows Apples mandate...

From Xbiz World Oct 2010

Microsoft released its developer tools today that clearly prohibit porn, sex, nudity or adult content....

http://www.xbizdigital.com/

what a total asshole

Fight vulgarity...