The United States Patent Office awarded Apple a patent to allow parents to control the text messages their children can send and receive.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]A lot of people seem angry about the patent, calling it the “anti-sexting” patent and that Apple is trying to control our freedoms. However, I don’t think there is a lot to be worried about here.
In fact, the patent clearly states that this would be controllable through the Parental Controls application on the device.
From the patent:
In one embodiment, the control application includes a parental control application. The parental control application evaluates whether or not the communication contains approved text based on, for example, objective ratings criteria or a user’s age or grade level, and, if unauthorized, prevents such text from being included in the text-based communication. If the control contains unauthorized text, the control application may alert the user, the administrator or other designated individuals of the presence of such text. The control application may require the user to replace the unauthorized text or may automatically delete the text or the entire communication.
So, yes, the parents can have control over the content being sent or received. But it’s the parents, not Apple that is limiting the content.
Here’s another way the technology could be used:
In another embodiment, the control application includes an instructional tool or study aid where the administrator sets one or more modes, such as language, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation and/or other content of a text-based communication based on, for example, a user’s age or grade level. This can be especially useful, for example, such as when a child’s grades go down. A parent can then institute a condition to improve a child’s grades. For example, the control application may require a user during specified time periods to send messages in a designated foreign language, to include certain designated vocabulary words, or to use proper designated spelling, designated grammar and designated punctuation and like designated language forms based on the user’s defined skill level and/or designated language skill rating. If the text-based communication fails to include the required language or format, the control application may alert the user and/or the administrator/parent of the absence of such text.
There’s more to the patent and technology than many people would lead you to believe.
“A lot of people seem angry about the patent, calling it the “anti-sexting” patent and that Apple is trying to control our freedoms. However, I don’t think there is a lot to be worried about here.”
Those people would complain about Apple no matter what they did. Apple bashing is an industry.
This is a parental control. I see it not only as a way to control sexting with someone who has not reached the age of consent, but also an anti-bully technology. If you can filter out sex related words you can filter hate related words.
Sounds like a good idea. I’m grateful that my mother taught me values, encouraged me to learn and use English properly and well, etc. This patent may result in some useful tools for parents.
I agree with both points guys.
It’s a filter right? I suppose the complainers could use the exact same “Apple controlling conspiracy” arguments for spam or malware. The conspiracy theorists do often become parodies of themselves but I suspect there are deeper hidden motives behind these screams of victimization and faux protestations.