Comcast Voice-Remote Rejects "Dick Van Dyke" Search: "I Cannot Handle That Type of Language"

hollywoodreporter.com ^ | 1/4/19 | Chris Gardner

[a little elbow grease]

Remote got snippy when users asked it to play episodes of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show.'

Comcast's Xfinity X1 Voice Remote is supposed to be state-of-the-art cable TV tech, allowing subscribers to speak relatively complex commands to the cable box. Not only can you ask it to fast-forward, pause and rewind, it can also answer tougher questions ("What's that song on the soundtrack?") and scour the cable guide for specific movies and shows. It’s also award-winning, scoring a 2017 Red Dot Design Award from the international design competition.

But there is one glitch.

Two users have confirmed to THR that the remote gets snippy when asked to play episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. "Sorry, I cannot handle commands with that type of language," it responds. Commands for "Dick Van Dyke" are now able to be completed after the problem was discovered, according to an Xfinity spokesperson: "We want to provide our customers with a best-in-class voice control experience that is also safe and appropriate for every member of the family. Last month alone, our customers issued 700 million voice commands, and when issues like this arise, we work to address them quickly."

[PLMerite]

“...appropriate for every member of the family.”

Except for Dutch Boys, apparently.

[TXnMA]

Hoo boy! Bound to happen:"Social Justice Translation Software"...

Shades of "1984"...

TXnMA
 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I just tried it here in Naples, Forida.

It responded in text “Dick Van D***” but found an on demand Dick Van Dyke channel.

[jacknhoo]

Searched it fine for me, must’ve fixed it already.

[HamiltonJay]

Dyke is a blacklisted word so it treats the input as cursing and won’t process it.0

[luv2ski]

I am confused by this post. I have a Comcast voice TV remote but it doesn’t “listen” like the “smart” boxes do. You have to push and hold down the microphone button and talk into it. Then it searches for your desired content. I don’t see how the situation you described could occur unless someone was holding down the button and searching for pizza places.

[yarddog]

I read that Mary Tyler Moore used to call him that.

Not sure if she was being affectionate, bitchy, or just amusing.

[Fightin Whitey]

[foreverfree]

Anncr.: "Now, back to 'The [bleep] Van [bleep] Show' on CBS!"

And for those nostagic for "American Top 40" (or growing up listening to K-Earth 101 in Left Angeles) ...

"I'm Charlie Van [bleep] doing house chores this week for Casey Kasem."

ff

[bert]

[Larry Lucido]

Will it help me find the Pho Keene restaurant?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3717160/posts

[Let's Roll]

“Penis Van Lesbian” probably won’t get you where ya wanna go, either.

Or it definitely will. :)

[gundog]

“Oh, Rob!”

[4yearlurker]

what do you call a lesbian driving a truck load of dildos?

[FreedomPoster]

I wouldn’t image search that text string without safe search turned on. Just sayin’, and I darn sure didn’t.

[ArcadeQuarters]

There's a name for this, which not coincidentally would be blocked by some filters: The Scunthorpe problem

[Soros Billions]

Would not be surprised if it is listening when the microphone button but in NOT pressed as well.

[Hardastarboard]

I have a car that reads text messages from my smartphone. After one particularly interesting family affair someone texted "That was a real clusterf*ck" - exact text. I had the car read it to me, and it read it verbatim, with the swear word.

True story. I've been telling people my car knows how to swear.

[xrmusn]

What was the ‘urban legend’?? about the couple arguing and one says ‘Call David Smith’ he will tell you all you want to know about ‘Jim Jones’..

: Alex ah -Call David Smith?.... He is just a pompous arse and a crooked S-O-B etc etc etc etc

(naturally a ‘friend’ name Alexis thought she was being paged and David Smith got an earful)

[Flick Lives]

Xfinity spokesperson: "We want to provide our customers with a best-in-class voice control experience that is also safe and appropriate for every member of the family. Last month alone, our customers issued 700 million voice commands, and when issues like this arise, we work to address them quickly."

Anyone else tired of these Dick Van Dyke responses from big corporations?