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Microsoft To Censor on the Fly

I'm sure you've watched G-rated versions of R-rated movies -- the ones where the curse words are replaced with reasonable facsimiles, like Samuel L. Jackson calling someone a "mother-loving mother lover" before blasting away.

Microsoft now has a patent that could allow online gaming dialogue to be cleaned up on the fly -- without need for an expensive Hollywood video and voice editor.

What has the free speech folks up in arms isn't so much the censorship, but the fact that the curses are replaced on the fly, and that those listening may be deceived into thinking those are the real words.

Is this invention a great move toward a more polite society, or an invasion of our rights? And how would you use such a thing in your home, office, the subway or maybe a professional football game? Keep it clean and send your answers to [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on October 22, 2008


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