Microsoft gets bleeping patent

Microsoft got another &#@*%-ing patent.

The software maker last week was granted U.S. patent No. 7437290 for, essentially, a technology that lets the company bleep out words in an audio stream that match a list of predefined bad words.

Ars Technica, which reported on the patent both when Microsoft applied for it in 2004 as well as now that it has been granted, notes that the technology could be used for more than just censoring profanity, suggesting that perhaps China or another government would want it employed for other phrases, such as Tibet or free speech.

Ars notes that the technology could be particularly adept if applied to cell phone audio given that cell phones have proved an important tool for dissidents aiming to organize.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, it wasn't able to use the technology in time to thwart this new ad from Apple.

The patent is just the latest in Microsoft's growing arsenal of patents, which the company has been aggressively licensing in recent years.

[boychuk]

Now that's f#$%&@* awesome!

[Michichael]

^
I
I

Lol.

[shikarishambu]

So, was boychuk's post an example of this technology in action or is it an "opportunity" for Microsoft to deploy it on news.com

[ballmerisanape]

They did this to help filter Ballmer's reactions to when interviewers and media ask about the iPhone.. and how he was soooo wrong..

[Mac OS XP]

What good is it? It has to hear the word before it can bleep it out, so all streaming audio would be delayed. Besides, we've seen from the demonstration of Vista's text-to-speech technology that their software is very far from the level of accuracy needed for this type of filtering.

[compudoc318]

%%%$^ you apple fanboy!!

[ballmerisanape]

What happens if you speak with an accent? I know a guy from China.. god bless him.. but if I didn't know better.. i would think he was cussing at me all the time..

[KonradK]

Microsoft can immediately apply this to the "Vista" V-word:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50DHHMBIJf8

[Serious_A]

The timing is perfect. Now, Microsoft can bleep the word VISTA automatically.
I guess they are already using their new patent on the "Window Without Walls" campaign.
The word VISTA has been bleeped out AUTOMATICALLY!

[aMUSICsite]

"Some other computers like the one's Apple uses have an alternative OS called BEEEP"

I wonder if this will be like the firewalls that block ok stuff because it appears to be bad?

[SP_021]

Hi *beep*
hmm >_> F**k
....
F**K
HELLO *beep*
Possibly fail like the voice recognition? :D could be fun

[solitare_pax]

That's one small step for Microsoft - and other great leap for Big Brother - and like-minded folks who think they should do all the thinking for you.

Of course, if it works as well as Vista - well, I wonder how long it would take for interested parties to vent their frustration on Microsoft.

[yahooBS]

Another way for Big Brother to monitor and edit your posts!
They can now have an automated editor change your words as you are submitting.

Do you think they need to limit it to 'curse' words?