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Consumer Watch: Device Filters TV

TV Guardian Can Help Protect Your Children

UPDATED: 6:25 a.m. EDT July 28, 2001

What can you do to filter foul content out of your children's TV programs and movies?

Consumer Watch reporter Wendy Bell might have an answer.

Bell tested a device called TV Guardian in the WTAE studios. TV Guardian is a black box about one-fourth the size of a VCR. It detects and filters out offensive words and phrases on your favorite TV shows and movies.

The one WTAE purchased costs about $100.

TV Guardian is different from the V-Chip, which is standard equipment in newer TVs and helps parents curb questionable material in movies and TV programs.

The V-Chip blocks out entire programs that it deems as inappropriate. With the TV Guardian, you simply do not hear certain words.

The device has a dictionary of about 100 words and phrases. When it detects foul language, a small "TV-G" icon appears in the bottom left of your screen.

The box mutes the words and replaces them with more appropriate captions so that you can follow along.

"When I first looked at it, it's interesting." said WTAE engineer Tom Skubel. "It's better than the V-Chip. But it cuts out your closed-captioning. If you need to use closed-captioning, you won't be able to with this device. And that has some implications for the hearing-impaired."

For more information on TV Guardian, click here.

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