Here's a resource - not much technical detail, but explains how the system
works better than I did:
http://www.vchipeducation.org/index.html
This gives some of the history of the idea:
http://www.primenet.com/~acacia/soundview/Bio.html
Apparently, the V-chips are only installed in Televisions, not VCRs, and
some content (e.g. news, pay-per-view or cablesystem movies) is not
necessarily rated. And the system uses the "Closed Captioning" signal to
convey the program rating information.
Cheers,
Mark.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke_at_mch20.sbs.de>
To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: V chip (was: Going totally OT )
>> The V-chip is a device that will be installed by law in every VCR and TV
>> manufactured in the U.S., which will allow parents to selectively block
>> content that they find objectionable. So, for example, if I think it's
o.k.
>> for my child to see a little bit of romance and sex, I could set the
"Sex"
>> limit to 2 out of 5. If I wanted to block all violent programming, I
could
>> set the "Violence" limit to 0 out of 5. The device would detect the Sex
and
>> Violence levels of all incoming programming (I don't know who would rate
>> the programs). If the program is over the limit that I've set, the
device
>> blocks the TV or VCR from showing the program.
>
>Let me get this straight - there is some software to be implemented
>on TVs and VCRs to disable them on a contend related base ? Just
>assuming that there will be some kind of add on signal (at this point
>I'd like to get some technical information) suplying the level(s)
>of whatever (what classes are named ?), who is responsible to
>judge the content ?
>
>Also, are the TV stations also forced to supply the coding all the time ?
>Maybe that's part of the US economic 'Wirtschaftswunder' - now TV stations
>need not only on guy to handle the clap-o-mat, but a second to rate
>the content all the time (asuming its not a preset thing like: Cartoon
>Network = Violence 5, Sex 0 etc.).
>
>BTW: I know there is violence on US-TV - but sex ?
>
>Small content providers like local chanels may have some dificulties,
>either to supply it at all, or supply it on a constant level - just
>think about the 'open' chanels in big cities ... If the judgement is
>done by the producer, someone of a 'nude acceping' show may have a
>different feeling about the 'sex rating' then the next guy who airs
>some TV church stuff.
>
>> Of course, given the number of people who can't even figure out how to
>> program their VCRs, I suspect that the kids will be better at changing
the
>> limits than their parents - I presume that the system includes passwords
or
>> something to prevent unauthorized changing of the limits.
>
>You mean VCRs don't have to blink all the time ?
>
>Well, the thing is doomed from either side.
>
>Gruss
>H.
>
>P.S.: is there any _reliable_ source for information on the web ?
>
>--
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>Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
>HRK
>
Received on Fri Feb 11 2000 - 16:08:14 GMT