V chip
The V-chip ( Engl. Violence-chip [ vaɪələntsˌtʃɪp ], "violence chip") is timed from the content to block a generic term depending on the property of television receivers, specific television programs or channels or completely. It is intended for parents to use to control their children's television viewing. In the USA , all televisions 13 inches or more must be equipped with the V-Chip since January 1, 2000. Most US broadcasters give a rating based on the level of visual and audible representation of sex, violence and other content. This corresponds to the TV Parental Guidelines system, similar to the age rating of the Motion Picture Association . The rating is written in a machine-readable so-called flag and sent with the television data stream. This can be done either in analogue via the blanking interval or digitally via a separate "PID". The V-Chip registers the flag and compares the sent rating with the rating stored in the receiver. If the identifier exceeds the specified level, the transmitter or the program is blocked for the duration of the flag being broadcast.
V-Chip technology was developed by Tim Collings of Simon Fraser University .
The V-Chip is usually not protected by a password and can therefore only be used by small children who cannot yet change the settings.
This system is not planned for Europe, but national regulations and laws which prescribe other types of child protection mechanisms in television programs apply here. For example, when switching to the full erotic channel Blue Movie from Sky, a numerical code must be entered, without which the channel cannot be decrypted.
Parodies
The V-Chip is parodied in the movie South Park: The Movie - Bigger, Longer, Unedited .
Eric Cartman , an eight-year-old boy, is constantly cursing in this movie after watching an R-rated fictional restricted-age movie . As a result, a V-Chip is inserted into his brain that causes electric shock when he swears. Known for its political and social innuendos, South Park is a reminder that using technology to violently change children's behavior does not inevitably improve their behavior or remedy the cause behind it.
Another parody appears in the animated series The Simpsons , in the episode The Popular Amusement Company : Lisa and Bart Simpson want to watch the violent series Itchy & Scratchy , but when the opening credits begin, the television turns off. The two children then scream in panic The violence chip! The violence chip! , Her father, Homer Simpson, turns the television back on, but when the violent scenes begin, the series is interrupted by a news special.
In the Futurama episode Der Leela-Laune-Zapp , the earth is attacked by a censorship satellite called V-Giny , which, as it turns out, is the result of a collision between a US Air Force satellite and a highly secret one FCC satellites .