Q&AQ&A
Below are many Frequently
Asked Questions concerning TVGuardian. Just click on the questions
or browse them all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does TVGuardian work?
Does my TV need a closed-caption decoder
for TVGuardian to work?
Why does TVGuardian mute the phrase instead
of just the profane word?
Is the closed-captioning displayed all
the time?
How do I connect TVGuardian?
What inputs and outputs are available?
How can I connect my DVD Player and VCR
to TVGuardian?
Does TVGuardian work with all TV Shows
and Videos?
Does TVGuardian work with TV/VCR Combo
units?
Does it work with DVD Players?
Does TVGuardian work with all DVD Movies?
Does it support HiFi Stereo and/or surround
sound?
Does TVG filter `god' when used as an
expletive?
What is the closed captioned signal?
Why doesn't it detect every cuss word?
How do I know if a movie is closed captioned?
How is TVGuardian different from the V-Chip?
How does
TVGuardian work?
TVGuardian uses a patented process invented by our founder to
detect profanity and other offensive phrases, mute the audio and
modify the broadcast closed captioned signal. The process consists
of monitoring the closed captioned signal, each captioned word
is checked against a dictionary of foul words stored in TVGuardian.
If an inappropriate word or phrase is detected, the audio is muted,
the offensive word is removed from the closed captioned signal,
and a suitable word is substituted, when appropriate.
Why
does TVGuardian mute the phrase instead of just the profane word?
TVGuardian's method of muting the offensive phrase is much more
effective than just muting the profane word. If only a single
word were muted, your eyes would still be focused on the mouth,
making it easy to read lips and fill-in-the-blanks. Thus, muting
only a single word would defeat the purpose of TVGuardian.
Does
my TV need a closed-caption decoder for TVGuardian to work?
No. It doesn't matter what kind of TV you have or how old it is.
TVGuardian has everything that it needs to filter out the foul
language.
Is
the closed-captioning displayed all the time?
Only if you want it to be. TVGuardian has three closed-caption
settings. The normal setting will display modified, profanity-free
closed-captioning only during the mute of offensive phrases. You
can also set TVGuardian to not display any closed-captioning,
or it can be set to display profanity-free closed-captioning during
the entire program.
How
do I connect TVGuardian?
TVGuardian easily connects between your VCR, Cable Box or Satellite
Receiver and your TV. If you can connect a VCR to your TV, then
you can connect TVGuardian. Normally, the cable, antenna, cable
box or satellite receiver is connected to your VCR, your VCR is
connected to TVGuardian and TVGuardian is connected to your TV.
When your watching television, you will need to change channels
with your VCR, cable box or satellite receiver. TVGuardian Manual
What
inputs and outputs are available?
TVGuardian has Hi-Fi audio and Video RCA type inputs and outputs.
A coaxial (RF) output is also included. TVGuardian Manual
How
can I connect my DVD Player and VCR to TVGuardian?
To use TVGuardian with multiple devices without having to disconnect
one to use the other, you will need to purchase an Audio/Video
Switch Box. The allow you to switch between multiple sources (DVD
Player, VCR, etc.) by pushing a button. An Audio/Video Switch
Box can be found at Radio Shack and other electronics stores.
Does
TVGuardian work with all TV Shows, Videos and DVDs?
TVGuardian works with virtually all TV shows, DVDs (see DVD info
below) and videos, including videos you have recorded of qualified
TV shows or movies (not home movies). Practically all TV series,
TV movies, videos rentals and purchased videos will be filtered
by TVGuardian. Some older programs do not have the required closed-captioning,
but that is already changing. Most popular older movies have already
been re-released with closed-captioning, and more are being re-released.
The FCC is requiring 95% of all programs shown to be closed-captioned
by 2002. TVGuardian will not work with live programs, such as
news, sporting events and talk shows.
Does
TVGuardian work with TV/VCR Combo units?
No it does not. TVGuardian must be able to intercept the programs
and edit out the foul language before it reaches the TV. This
is not possible with the TV/VCR Combo units.
Does
it work with DVD Players?
Yes it does. We've tested dozens of DVD Players and all but two
worked great. Although almost all DVD Players do work with TVGuardian,
not all do. DVD Player models from RCA, GE, Sanyo, Toshiba, Panasonic,
Denon, Pioneer, Sony, Philips have all worked. To be safe, a simple
test can be done to make sure a DVD Player will work with TVGuardian.
Ask the sales rep to turn the Television's closed-caption decoder
on and play a DVD (something other than Universal Studios). If
you see closed-captioning, TVGuardian will work with the tested
DVD Player.
Does
TVGuardian work with all DVD Movies?
TVGuardian works with all DVD Movies tested except those from
Universal Studios. Luckily, Universal Studios only produces a
small percentage of the available movies. Universal Studios does
not provide the closed-captioning signal in the format standards
used by the rest of the industry and outlined by the FCC.
Does
it support HiFi Stereo and/or surround sound?
TVGuardian does support HiFi Stereo and ProLogic surround sound.
It also works with DVD Players. However, it only supports Dolby
Digital 5.1 if your DVD Player has a Dolby Digital 5.1 processor
built-in. If it does, TVGuardian can be connected to the center
speaker output of the DVD Player. Ninety-five percent of the voice
track comes through the center channel. TVGuardian will mute the
dialog when offensive language is detected, and the background
audio will remain untouched.
Does
TVG filter `god' when used as an expletive?
TVGuardian always attempts to filter `gd' in both filter settings.
The Strict Filter Setting also filters the words God, Jesus and
Christ when used as an expletive. Some programs have a religious
theme. Therefore, TVGuardian's Moderate Filter Setting allows
most uses of God, Jesus and Christ except for the obviously offensive
uses.
What
is the closed captioned signal?
The closed captioned signal is a hidden signal that is embedded
in the video signal of most broadcast television and video tapes.
It is intended for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Closed-captioning
service officially began in the early 1980's. On August 7, 1997,
the FCC approved a new law which will mandate captioning on virtually
all television programming in the United States. This mandate
will be phased in over the coming years. However, today the closed
captioned signal is in almost every new video release and major
network broadcast. Again, TVGuardian reads this hidden signal
to detect cuss words. Check out Gary Robson's CC FAQ for more
information.
Why
doesn't it detect every cuss word?
Since TVGuardian is dependent on the accuracy of the closed captioning
to detect cuss words, it cannot know if a cuss word is spoken
unless it is captioned. The closed captioned signal is more than
95% accurate on scripted, or pre-recorded programs. Therefore,
TVGuardian is more than 95% accurate on these programs. However,
it is not going to detect cuss words when the following occurs:
1. A cuss word is not captioned.
2. A cuss word is captioned, but it is not syncronized with the
audio.
3. An unusual cuss word is used, and it is not in TVGuardian's
dictionary.
4. The program is not closed captioned.
5. The program is a live broadcast, and the closed captioning
is delayed.
How
do I know if a movie is closed captioned?
You can normally expect any movie released since the mid-1980's
to be closed-captioned. However, if you want to be sure. Look
at the movie lable, or box. Some are captioned, yet don't contain
a notice. However, most have ``Closed-Captioned", ``CC",
or one of the following symbols:
This is a generic symbol which
can be used by any company.
This logo is a registered trademark
of the National Captioning (NCI) Institute, and is only used for
productions that are caption by NCI.
How
is TVGuardian different from the V-Chip?
TVGuardian and the V-Chip are two very different parental control
devices. The V-Chip is merely an automated on/off switch. It is
based on a ratings system that is broadcast with the television
signal. If a program's rating exceeds the allowed rating set by
the parents, the V-Chip blocks the entire program. Since the V-Chip
is based on the broadcast ratings system, it does not work on
movies played on a VCR, Laser Disc Player, etc.
TVGuardian, on the other hand, fills
a void left by the V-Chip. Most parents that don't want their
children watching certain programs, simply don't let their children
watch them. The problem is programs with content suitable for
children, except for the language. TVGuardian solves this problem.
In addition, it works on movies played on your own VCR.