 |
|
|
|
Please note: The reports in this section are not product reviews or tests; they're meant to spotlight options for you to consider, as well as milestones in children's online-safety technology development. Comments from readers on their own experiences with these products and services are most welcome - and, with your permission, we publish them. Do email us your own product reviews anytime!
Filtering in Languages Other Than English (June 8, '01 issue)
A German-speaking interpreter in Switzerland contacted us recently about a new, multilingual filtering software product made in Japan. We're just savoring the sheer internationalism illustrated here! The product, called "Kids GoGoGo," filters on Macintosh computers in English, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Its makers are Maki Enterprise, Inc. in Tokushima, Japan.
Like many filtering products, the software uses both keyword and database blocking technologies, meaning it blocks material that contains key words specified as objectionable and it checks all URLs against a "black list" database of Web sites. The database, which Maki says now has some 500,000 objectionable sites in it, is updated biweekly, and the software provides an update button the user can click for free automatic updates. The software also monitors and records online activity. There's a 2-week trial copy that can be downloaded from the Maki site. If any of you try it, email us what you think!
Here are other non-English filtering products we've found:
ContentBarrier - Filtering in French and English by Paris-based Intego software makers. Interestingly, this product too is for Macintosh computers only.
Optionet for the Home - filtering for Windows PCs by San Sebastian, Spain-based software company, Edunet. The product is available in Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, German, and Italian (product-description Web pages are also available in these languages - here's the Spanish version, Optenet). The company also provides Internet service in some countries.
This item is by no means comprehensive. If any of you have tried software that filters in non-English languages - at home or school - do email us what you think (please include addresses of their companies' Web sites).
HOME
| newsletter | subscribe
| links | supporters |
about | feedback
